Campaldino stakes Sydney Cup claim in Randwick City Stakes
Last season’s Gr.2 Brisbane Cup (3200m) winner Campaldino (NZ) (Ghinellines) has another big two-mile feature on his radar and took a big step in that direction in Saturday’s A$200,000 Listed Randwick City Stakes (2000m) at Randwick.
Trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott are working backwards from the Gr.1 Sydney Cup (3200m) on April 11 with the Ghibellines gelding, who had resumed with an eye-catching fifth in the Gr.3 Parramatta Cup (1900m) at Rosehill on February 21.
Campaldino was even better second-up on Saturday, hitting top gear in the straight and powering out of the pack to beat Athabascan (Almanzor) and Juja Kibo (Belardo) by a length and a quarter.
“Great to see him bounce back in such good shape second-up,” Bott said. "I thought he was in for a nice campaign, and he is only going to keep improving as they get over ground. He showed that last preparation. He's got those true staying capabilities and I'm looking forward to the campaign ahead.
“At this stage he will push on to the Manion Cup (Gr.3, 2400m, March 21), through the Chairman’s Handicap (Gr.2, 2600m, April 4) and on to the Sydney Cup. It’s a programme we’ve used before and used it well.”
Campaldino was ridden to victory on Saturday by Tim Clark.
“I had to wait and let him build through when he was ready, and when he finally got into gear and had his revs up, he was always going to win,” Clark said. “The good thing about him is he relaxes so well. He goes to sleep.”
From 16 starts, Campaldino has now recorded seven wins and four placings. He has banked A$615,697 for a Darby Racing syndicate.
Campaldino was bred by the Ricky & Anna Rhodes Partnership and is by former White Robe Lodge stallion Ghibellines out of the Shocking mare Zuzana (NZ).
Campaldino began his career in the Matamata stable of Cody Cole, for whom he had four starts. He finished seventh and eighth in his first two appearances, then put together back-to-back wins in a 1750m highweight at Taupo and a 2200m Rating 65 at Pukekohe. His performances caught the eye of Rob Waterhouse, and he was purchased privately.
