Capannelle

German raider Borna (Fr) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}) ran out a comfortable winner of Sunday's G2 Premio 141 Derby Italiano at Capannelle Racecourse in Rome, his third win from five career starts for Markus Klug. Stepping up to the 2,200-metre trip for the first time, Borna proved well suited by the extra emphasis on stamina in a race run on soft ground. He was soon in a prominent position on the outer in the hands of Andreas Starke, with Amonet (Ity) (Faydhan) leading the 15-strong field until he was passed with...

1st-Capannelle, €7,700, Vnd., 5-17, 2yo, 1200m (AWT), 1:15.90. LA PORTOGHESE (IRE) (f, Shaman {Ire}--Madame Cherie, by First Samurai) jumped well in this unveiling and briefly led before perching in a stalking second on the bend. Given her cue at the 600-metre mark, the race was over in a matter of strides, as she drew farther and farther clear down the lane to win by a geared down 10 lengths. Tindi Of Malindi (Ire) (National Defense {Ire}) was a distant second. Consigned by Baroda Stud to the Goffs Autumn Yearling Sale,...

Favoured Ardakan (GB) (Reliable Man {GB}) rewarded the Capannelle faithful with a narrow score in the G2 Derby Italiano over 2200 metres on Sunday. Tanking up to sit in midpack while glued to the rail, the Markus Klug-trained colt was a bit keen nearing the bend, but eventually settled down. He edged toward the front under his own power while still saving ground, and was tipped off the inside to make his run 800 metres from home. Employing a speedy turn of foot, he drew into contention at the 600-metre...

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...

A winner last time out of the G3 Premio Verziere Mem Aldo Cirla, Sopran Basilea (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) doubled her group-winning tally in the G2 Premio Lydia Tesio at Capannelle on Sunday. Sent off at 6-1, the Grizzetti Galoppo trainee broke last and soon secured a position near the tail of the field in the heavy going as Eulaila (Ity) (Arcano {Ire}) led by open lengths. Saving ground against the fence, Sopran Basilea improved to midfield on the bend and was moving with a full head of steam...

Likeable gelding Skalleti (Fr) (Kendargent {Fr}), a Group 1 winner in France and Germany, continued to pad his admirable record with a second victory in the G2 Premio Roma at Capannelle on Sunday. The grey won his first edition in 2019. Sent off at 6-5, the crowd's pick raced last of all in the bog-like going, as Alastor (Ire) (Helmet {Aus}) cut out the early running. Making up ground down the long straight, Skalleti raced out in the center of the course and was within striking distance with a quarter...

Purciaretta landed her first black-type win in the Listed Premio Divino Amore Livermore and became her first-season sire's second stakes scorer at Campannelle. A winner at first asking back in May, she won a Rome affair four starts later going 1000 metres on Sept. 24. She then took a conditions race there on Oct. 15 and was narrowly favoured on Sunday. Breaking from the rail, the filly raced one off the fence and just behind a rival in second. Purciaretta spent the middle part of the race with her head...

1ST-CAPANNELLE, €13,200, Mdn., 5-9, 2yo, 1200m (AWT), 1:13.50. DON CHICCO (GB) (128, c, 2, El Kabeir-Otrooha (Ire), by Oasis Dream {GB}), a distant second locally going 1000 metres over soft ground when unveiled on May 1, was tabbed the even-money pick in this quick return. Trying the all-weather surface for the first time, the bay battled with a rival for the advantage from the bell and sat a neck second on the far turn. He re-bid for the lead in upper stretch and forged clear to win by three lengths...