The Japanese owner Takaya Shimakawa made the right move, purchasing the G2 Derby Italiano candidate last week. The colt, who had made a winning debut in his lone start at two, was unbeaten and stepped into the Derby picture with wins in the Premio San Giuseppe, at Capannelle, and the Listed Premio Emanuele Filiberto, two of the most reputed trials for this Classic.
Mac Mahon, with the in-form jockey Cristian Demuro, relished the solid pace set by Back On Board and came charging up the middle of the track at the 600-metre pole. Shimakawa's colt put the race to the bed in few strides, while Back On Board drifted left despite the whip correction of his jockey Antonio Fresu. In the end, the margin was five lengths between the pair, with a notably green Back On Board fighting back late to defend his runner-up position by a head when challenged by Anda Muchacho.
Mac Mahon is the seventh winner of the Derby Italiano for the Botti family and the second for Cristian Demuro.
Takaya Shimakawa said, “I was thinking about purchasing a horse in Italy and Mac Mahon was the right one. He won well and I enjoyed every moment of this day. Mac Mahon will stay in Italy and he is a brilliant horse. [Next] Sunday I will have a runner in the G2 Oaks d'Italia, Paiardina (Ire) (Casamento {Ire}), that I bought with Mac Mahon.”
Pedigree Notes…
Mac Mahon is the first Classic winner sired by Ramonti (Fr) (Martino Alonso (Ire) and second group winner after Montiridge (Ire) landed the G3 Bonhams Thoroughbred S. at Goodwood in 2013. Ramonti won the G1 Premio Vittorio di Capua and, purchased by Godolphin, scored another four top flight victories, before spending one season at Kildangan Stud in Ireland. Returned to Italy, Ramonti stands at SAB Allevamento di Besnate since 2010. The dam of Mac Mahon, the listed placed Miss Sultin (Ire), produced Mickai (Ity) (Mujahid) three years in advance of Mac Mahon. That half-brother won the most valuable Italian handicap, the historic Corsa Dell'Arno and was third in the Premio Regione Toscana. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
Sunday, Rome, Italy
DERBY ITALIANO-G2, €704,000, CAP, 5-21, 3yo, c/f, 11fT, 2:16.50, gd.
1–@MAC MAHON (ITY), c, 3, 128, by Ramonti (Fr)
1st Dam: Miss Sultin (Ire) (SP-Ity), by Celtic Swing (GB)
2nd Dam: Miss Caerleon (GB), by Caerleon
3rd Dam: Satin Pointe, by Sadler's Wells
O-Takaya Shimakawa; B-Massimiliano Porcelli; T-Alduino Botti;
J-Cristian Demuro. €272,000. Lifetime Record: 4-4-0-0,
€301,750. *1/2 to Mickai (Ity) (Mujahid), SP-Ity. Werk Nick
Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Back On Board (Ire), 128, c, 3, Nathaniel (Ire)–Holy Moon
(Ire), by Hernando (Fr). O-Scuderia New Age; B-Razza del
Velino-Ity; T-Alduino Botti. €119,680.
3–Anda Muchacho (Ire), 128, c, 3, Helmet (Aus)–Montefino
(Ire), by Shamardal. (18,000gns Ylg '15 TATOCT; €26,000 2yo
'16 GORMAY). O-Scuderia Incolinx; B-Thomas Hasset (Ire); T-Il
Cavallo In Testa. €65,280.
Margins: 5, HD, 2. Odds: 3.70, 2.50, 3.42.
Also Ran: Amore Hass (Ire), Patriot Hero (Ire), Ground Rules (Ity), Diditi (GB), Menuhin (Ity), Fortissimo (Ger), Kensai (Fr), Aethos (Ire).
Click for the Racing Post chart or the Capannelle Video.
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