One of five black type performers for his G1 Rosehill Guineas-winning sire D’Argento (So You Think), the Emma-Lee and David Browne-trained Statuario became the first stakes winner for his sire, relishing the step up in trip to claim the Listed MRC Galilee Series Final (2400m) at Caulfield.
A last start second in the Group 2 Alister Clark Stakes (2040m) at Moonee Valley, the grey gelding settled handy in the slowly run race before taking control as the field rounded the final turn, charging away under John Allen to win by more than two lengths as the race favourite.
Purchased for just $18,000 from the draft of Bowness Stud at the Inglis Gold Yearling Sale by his trainers, Toward Reward Syndications and agent Lenny Russo’s Bluegrass Bloodstock, Statuario has now recorded three wins and three placed efforts from just ten starts with over $250,000 in earnings.
Now favourite for the Group 1 SA Derby (2400m) on May 3 at Morphettville, connections have some big decisions to make.
“It’s hard to know off that page whether he’s a genuine stayer or not,” co-trainer David Browne said, “Today, he showed it. He switched off and showed that turn of foot over ground. He did what he needed to do.
“Whether we freshen now and go to Queensland or whether we take the four-week gap and go into the derby in SA. It looks a nice race for him.
“We should have a go (at a derby) now. I just didn’t want to stretch him out over the spring as he was a bit weak, but he’s just starting to furnish now.”
The first foal from Miss Entice, the Dash For Cash sister to Listed Cranbourne Cup winner Boom And Zoom, Statuario’s half-brother by So You Think’s Group 2 Stan Fox Stakes winner Peltzer was sold at this year’s Magic Millions Yearling Sale on the Gold Coast for $170,000 to Duncan Ramage’s DGR Thoroughbreds and Chris Anderson Racing.
Miss Entice foaled another colt by Peltzer in 2024, before unfortunately missing to D’Argento last season, but will be one of the first to visit him when the 2025 covering season begins on September 1.
James Daly, who operates Bowness Stud with wife Jocelyn was excited by victory.
“We’re absolutely thrilled to see D’Argento notch his first stakes winner,” enthused Daly.
“It’s a meaningful result for us because we’ve always believed in the quality and potential of his progeny. This win reinforces what we’ve seen all along - his stock have the strength, scope and mindset to deliver as they mature. A big congratulations to Sparta Racing, we’re excited for what’s to come.”
With his oldest runners just 3, D’Argento has been represented by five stakes performers to date including the Restricted Listed Inglis Nursey third placegetter Sequista who looked good on Friday when winning her barrier trial at Rosehill by just shy of three lengths from stakes winners Within The Law (Lucky Vega) and Memo (Capitalist), with all three likely to clash in the $1m Group 2 Percy Sykes Stakes on April 12.
