Ardakan (GB) (Reliable Man {GB}) had only faced the starter twice, good for a third in a Sept. 27 Munich seven-furlong affair and a second in a 10-furlong contest at Baden-Baden on Oct. 15, but he managed to break his maiden and earn a first black-type rosette in the G3 Premio Guido Berardelli at Capannelle.
The heavy going did not phase the grey and he perched in a tugging second shortly after the gates flew with Crystal Drake (Ity) (Full Drago {Ity}) leading the vanguard. Positions were largely unchanged as the field exited the turn and began to race up the lengthy stretch and the 5-2 chance had edged up to the leader's flank by the 600-metre mark. Switched off the rail, the Darius Racing colourbearer traded blows with Crystal Drake, before sticking his neck in front at the two pole. It was a cakewalk from there, as Ardakan burst away to win by six good-looking lengths. Crystal Drake stayed on gamely to keep second, a head in front of Wonka Willy (Ire) (Estidhkaar {Ire}), with that pair another four lengths clear of the remainder.
Pedigree Notes
The 17th black-type winner for his sire, Ardakan is also the 11th group winner. Reliable Man's stallion resume also features a trio of Group 1 winners-Miami Bound (NZ), Inspirational Girl (NZ), and Miss Sentimental (NZ)-all in the Southern Hemisphere.
Ardakan is the second stakes winner for German listed winner Alaskakonigin after Listed Diana Trial heroine Alaskasonne (Fr) (Soldier Hollow {GB}). The last known foal out of the gray is the weanling colt Abanos (GB) (Best Solution {Ire}).
Sunday, Rome, Italy
PREMIO GUIDO BERARDELLI-G3, €69,300, Rome, 11-7, 2yo, 1800mT, 1:54.90, hy.
1–ARDAKAN (GB), 123, c, 2, by Reliable Man (GB)
1st Dam: Alaskakonigin (Ger) (SW-Ger),
by Sternoenig (Ire)
2nd Dam: Annouche (Ger), by Unfuwain
3rd Dam: Anna Thea (Ire), by Turfkonig (Ger)
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN. 1ST GROUP WIN. (€40,000 Ylg '20
BBASEP). O-Darius Racing. B-Gestut Rottgen (GB). T-Markus
Klug. €26,775. Lifetime Record: 3-1-1-1, €29,040. *1/2 to
Alaskasonne (Fr) (Soldier Hollow {GB}), SW-Ger. Werk Nick
Rating: D. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Crystal Drake (Ire), 123, c, 2, Full Drago (Ity)–Crystal Tour
(Ire), by Invincible Spirit (Ire). O-Stefano Botti. B-Azienda
Agricola Mariano (Ity). T-A. Botti. €11,781.
3–Wonka Willy (Ire), 123, c, 2, Estidhkaar (Ire)–Ivy Batty (Ire),
by King's Best. (€4,500 RNA Wlg '19 GOFNOV; €4,500 RNA Ylg
'20 GOFFEB; €3,000 Ylg '20 TATDEC). O-Scuderia Semeso &
Sebastiano Guerrieri. B-Gerald Colclough (Ire). T-Sebastiano
Guerrieri. €6,426.
Margins: 6, HD, 4. Odds: 2.73, 0.83, 2.52.
Also Ran: Arc On Fire (Ire), Saidin (Fr), Blentteim Fan (Ity).
Click for the Racing Post chart or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video.
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