By Adam Houghton
Silvestre de Sousa gained his third European Classic victory of the year on Sunday as he produced the Paolo Aragoni-trained Tomiko (Ire) (Footstepsinthesand {GB}) with a strong late run to land the G2 Oaks d'Italia Tattersalls at Milan's San Siro Racecourse, working the oracle on a filly who was remarkably gaining the first win of her career on her eleventh start.
De Sousa–who'd already won the G1 1,000 Guineas on Elmalka (GB) (Kingman {GB}) and the G2 German 2,000 Guineas on Devil's Point (Ire) (New Bay {GB})–was riding Tomiko for the first time on Sunday and soon had her settled at the rear of the 10-strong field, some way off the pace set by Nikkei (Ity) (Affaire Solitaire {Ire}) in the early stages.
It looked like being a two-horse race for much of the straight as Sun Never Sets (Karakontie {Jpn}) moved up to challenge Nikkei at the head of affairs, but Tomiko was gradually making headway under De Sousa and there was no stopping her once she was switched to the outside after briefly meeting trouble. Relishing the step up to 2,200 metres for the first time, she powered home to secure the lion's share of the €388,300 prize fund, beating Sun Never Sets by a short neck at odds of 182-10, with Nikkei over a length further back in third. German raider Isfand (Ger) (Isfahan {Ger}), sent off the odds-on favourite, could manage only fourth.
As part of their sponsorship, Tattersalls offered vouchers of 15,000 guineas, 5,000 guineas and 2,500 guineas to the owners of the winner, runner-up and third, respectively. The vouchers can to be spent at the 2024 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale or Tattersalls Somerville Yearling Sale, or at the 2025 Tattersalls Craven and Guineas Breeze-Up Sales. The winner, runner-up and third are also offered free entry to the Tattersalls December Mares Sale.
Tomiko is already a Tattersalls graduate having sold to Marco Bozzi Bloodstock for 20,000gns when offered by breeders Awbeg Stud at Book 3 of the October Yearling Sale. She'd produced several good efforts in defeat despite failing to get off the mark in her 10 starts prior to the Oaks d'Italia, notably gaining black type as a two-year-old when finishing third in the G2 Premio Dormello and runner-up in the Listed Premio Repubbliche Marinare.
🏆 Delighted connections of Gr.2 Oaks d'Italia Tattersalls winner Tomiko following her brilliant victory for Paolo Aragoni & Luigi Ginobbi under @SilvDSousa.
She was bought by @Bozzibloodstock for 20,000gns at #TattsOctober Book 3 from @Awbegstud. pic.twitter.com/3OdRe3sRdM
— Tattersalls (@Tattersalls1766) June 9, 2024
Pedigree Notes
Tomiko is the second winner from three runners out of the unraced Lawman (Fr) mare Testimony (GB), a half-sister to the 10-time winner–including at Listed level–Saltonstall (GB) (Pivotal {GB}). Her second dam is the G2 Prix de Pomone heroine and G1 Prix Royal-Oak runner-up Macleya (Ger) (Winged Love {Ire}), who is in turn kin to the G3 Prix de Barbeville winner Montclair (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}), plus the Listed-placed trio of Macassar (GB) (Tertullian), Mahnaz (GB) (Dansili {GB}) and Miramare (Ger) (Rainbow Quest), dam of the G1 Prix Ganay winner Mare Australis (Ire) (Australia {GB}). The third dam, Minaccia (Ger) (Platini {Ger}), was a dual Listed winner in Germany.
Sunday, Milan, Italy
PREMIO OAKS D'ITALIA-TATTERSALLS-G2, €388,300, 6-9, Milan, 3yo, f, 2200mT, 2:18.30, gd.
1–TOMIKO (IRE), 123, f, 3, by Footstepsinthesand (GB)
1st Dam: Testimony (GB), by Lawman (Fr)
2nd Dam: Macleya (Ger), by Winged Love (Ire)
3rd Dam: Minaccia (Ger), by Platini (Ger)
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN, 1ST GROUP WIN. (20,000gns Ylg '22 TATOCT). O-Luigi Ginobbi Srls. B-Awbeg Stud (IRE). T-Aragoni Paolo. J-Silvestre De Sousa. €243,950. Lifetime Record: 11-1-4-2, €289,010. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Sun Never Sets, 123, f, 3, Karakontie (Jpn)–Kodiak West (Ire), by Kodiac {GB}. 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. ($75,000 Ylg '22 FTKOCT; 16,000gns 2yo '23 TATDEC). O-Alma Racing Srl. B-Gainesway Thoroughbreds Ltd. (KY). T-Stefano Botti Turf Srl Soc Al. €66,011.
3–Nikkei (Ity), 123, f, 3, Affaire Solitaire (Ire)–Eugubina (Ire), by Iffraaj (GB). 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. O-Fiordelli Sauro Andrea. B-Fiordelli Sauro Andrea & Roveda Luigi Pi etro (ITY). T-Biondi Roberto. €36,006.
Margins: SHD, 1 1/4, 3 1/4. Odds: 19.23, 23.84, 12.92.
Also Ran: Calle Almazora (Ity), Duras (Ger), Gris Celebre (Ire), Isfand (Ger), Punta Lancia ( Ire), Quetame (GB), Saman (Ger).
Click for the SNAI Chart and Video.
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