Italy
DERBY ITALIANO
(814,000 Euros) Capannelle G2 11f 3-y-o
Run at the Rome course since 1881, the Derby Italiano was won no fewer than 22 times in the first half of the last century by breeder Federico Tesio. German raider Osorio was successful in 2003 while locally trained Groom Tesse came home in front in 2004. De Sica scored another home victory in 2005 when he overcame the odds-on favourite Ramonti in the final furlong. Gentlewave landed the 2006 renewal for French trainer Andre Fabre when he inched away from Storm Mountain inside the final two furlongs to secure a four-length victory. In 2007 Awelmarduk, trained by Italian brothers Alduino and Giuseppe Botti and ridden by Giuseppe’s son Edmondo, readily wore down and drew off from Shrek and Rob’s Love inside the final 100 yards to secure victory by half a length. Cima De Triomphe dug deep to score in the 2008 event. Trained by Bruno Grizzetti and ridden by Silvano Mulas, the three-year-old colt battled bravely to hold off the efforts of Permesso by half a length. The Italian Classic was downgraded to a Group Two in 2009 however the race still remains one of Europe’s richest prizes. Having won the race twice previously when a Group One with Central Park in 1998 and Mukhalif the following year, Godolphin and the partnership of Frankie Dettori and Mastery enjoyed a cosy victory, staying on well to score going away by a length and a half. The 2010 winner Worthadd, who was supplemented following his success in the Italian 2,000 Guineas for trainer Vittorio Caruso, prevailed in a tight finish under jockey Mirco Demuro to secure the Group Two event.
PREMIO PRESIDENTE DELLA REPUBBLICA
(297,000 Euros) Capannelle G1 1¼m 4-y-o and upwards
Even older than the Derby Italiano, and first run in 1878. The 2002 winner, the home-trained Falbrav, is regarded as his country's best middle-distance horse in the past decade while British raider Rakti triumphed in 2003. The Italian-trained Altieri recorded back-to-back victories in 2004 and 2005. A year later, the race favourite Distant Way rallied late in the closing stages to win by a length for Italian trainer Lorenzo Brogi. Distant Way found his way back into the winner’s enclosure again in 2007. Ridden by Mirco Demuro, the six-year-old son of Distant View hit the front inside the final furlong to deny Pressing by half a length. It was the turn of Saddex and jockey Kerrin McEvoy in 2008. Trained by Peter Rau, the five-year-old horse just got his head in front in the final strides to beat the Michael Jarvis trained Pressing by a head. The 2009 renewal went to Selmis who provided Italian trainer Vittorio Caruso with his third victory in the race. A year later Querari was the hard fought winner of the race for trainer Andreas Wohler. Given a forceful ride by Eduardo Pedroza, the four-year-old Oasis Dream colt responded to that pressure to win by three quarters of a length.
OAKS D'ITALIA
(440,000 Euros) San Siro G2 1m 3f 3-y-o fillies
British-trained fillies Zomoradah (1998), Zanzibar (2001) and Menhoubah (2004) have won this race in past years, which has also seen victories for German raiders including Meridiana, successful in 2003, and Gyreka who took the honours in 2005. While in 2006, Italian trainer Riccardo Menichetti recorded his biggest ever triumph when Dionisia, ridden by Christophe Soumillon, showed a blistering turn of foot inside the final two furlongs to demolish her field and record a six-length victory. A year later, it was the turn of British trainer Michael Jarvis to enter the winner's enclosure with his charge Fashion Statement. Jockey Neil Callan, had the daughter of Rainbow Quest well positioned throughout the race and when asked a furlong and a half from home she responded well to win by a length and a quarter. The 2008 renewal saw the Peter Schiergen-trained Goose Bay register a thoroughly convincing win by an impressive five and a half lengths under jockey Andrasch Starke. A year later, Night Of Magic, trained by Horst Steinmetz and ridden by Mirco Demuro, caught the Clive Brittain-trained Wadaat on the line to win by the smallest of margins - a nose. Newmarket based trainer Luca Cumani secured the 2010 event with the Kieren Fallon-ridden Contredanse. The Danehill Dancer filly beat the Richard Hannon-charge Middle Club by a nose in the 12-runner contest.
PREMIO VITTORIO DI CAPUA
(€297,000) San Siro G1 8f 3-y-o and upwards
The Premio Vittorio di Capua, run at San Siro racecourse in Italy, received Group One status in 1988 and was won by the Italian-trained Jurado ridden by Gianfranco Dettori. Since then three horses have won the race twice – Sikeston (1990 & 1991) for trainer Clive Brittain, John Dunlop’s Alhijaz (1992 & 1993) and Slickly (2001 & 2002) for Godolphin. Prior to Slickly’s consecutive wins, Godolphin had been successful with Muhtathir (1999) and Ancient World (2004) all of which were partnered by Frankie Dettori. In 2003 Le Vie Dei Colori, trained by Roberto Brogi, gave Italy their first winner of this race for 15 years and in 2005 it was a German 1-2, when the Peter Rau-trained filly, Anna Monda, held off Martillo to score comfortably by one and three quarter lengths. Ramonti, trained by Alduino Botti, prevailed in 2006. Twelve months later, Linngari was successful for French trainer Alain de Royer-Dupre and jockey Jimmy Fortune. Hitting the front a furlong from home, the son of Indian Ridge held off a challenge from Golden Titus to score by three quarters of a length. The race did not take place in 2008. Godolphin’s Gladiatorus was the convincing winner of the 2009 event under jockey Ahmed Atjebi. The four-year-old colt took up the running after a furlong and was never in any danger of being caught, crossing the line four and a half lengths clear of his nearest rival Win For Sure.