Promising galloper Sacred Satono remains unbeaten in two starts as a three-year-old after putting away his rivals in emphatic fashion at Ruakaka.
The Bruce Wallace and Grant Cooksley-trained son of Satono Aladdin, who was stakes placed during his two-year-old campaign, kicked off his spring preparation with an impressive victory over 970m on the Cambridge synthetic last month.
That performance saw him well-supported late in betting to start a +170 favourite for the Tree Wise Northland 3YO (1300m) on Saturday and he didn't disappoint as he raced to a comfortable victory in the hands of apprentice Ace Lawson-Carroll.
Lawson-Carroll had his charge underway nicely from a handy barrier draw and settled in behind a solid pace set up by On The Wall and Slipper Island.
Angled across heels at the 300m Sacred Satono lengthened strongly as he chased down another quality juvenile from last season in Desert Lightning to win going away by a length with maiden galloper Mighty Bright running on nicely to take third, while debutant Nancho Girl was an eye-catching fourth.
Currently holding a nomination for the Group 1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton on November 5, Cooksley was pleased to see the horse run out the 1300m journey strongly.
“He goes really well and the best part about him is that he tries hard every time,” Cooksley said.
“He settled nicely in the trail today but got a little lost when he was looking for a run approaching the turn.
“Once he got clear air and balanced up, he finished off strongly so it was a good win.
“He has taken a lot of improvement this time in but we still think he is at least six months away from his best.”
Cooksley will sit down during the week and look at a path towards the 2000 Guineas.
“On his performances so far you would think he will get a mile although that might be as far he can go in this prep.
“We haven't worked out what we are going to do next but as long as he comes through this run okay then we can work that out next week.
“He probably needs a little more ringcraft as he really hasn't learnt to settle just yet, but there is plenty to work with when he does.”
Out of the six-race winner Belle Joie, Sacred Satono was a NZD$34,000 purchase for Wallace from the Rich Hill Stud draft during the Book 2 sale at Karaka in 2021.
Bookmakers reacted sharply to the victory as they moved Sacred Satono in from +2000 to +700 for the 2000 Guineas where he sits on the second line of betting behind current Fixed Odds favourite Dynastic (+300).
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