Brian and Shane Anderton's classy performer Capo Dell Impero continues to be the perfect advertisement for their Wingatui-based sire Ghibellines, adding the Cromwell Cup (2030m) to his impressive record on Sunday.
Capo Dell Impero put the writing on the wall when scorching home for fifth in the Group 3 Coupland's Bakeries Mile (1600m) during New Zealand Cup Week at Riccarton last start, however, he started a cautious $8.50 third-favourite with horse racing bookmakers at Cromwell behind his more-fancied stablemate Burgie ($2.30).
Contending with a tricky draw of 11, regular jockey Corey Campbell began patiently aboard the six-year-old to get across to the fence in the back half of the field early, while veteran Cup campaigner Camino Rocoso took up the pace-making role.
Stalking the younger stablemate into the straight, Campbell brought Capo Dell Impero off the rail and through tight quarters to gain clear running, and the gelding showed a dominant turn-of-foot in the closing stages to stave off a late challenge from Jon Ol Rocco to score by a neck.
“It was a great run, it was a good effort from Corey to get him across from that barrier draw and he gave him a really nice ride. I was pretty happy with it at the end of the day,” Shane Anderton said.
“You're never too confident but he was pretty smart in the Coupland's and he brought that form here today, so he was always going to be hard to beat.
“We'll let the dust settle a wee bit when we get home, but there's lots of nice races in the autumn for him. We'll probably give him a freshen-up now, then look to target those.”
Anderton was also pleased with Burgie's fourth-place effort. The five-year-old mare returned to the form that saw her finish second behind Live Drama in the Group 3 South Island Thoroughbred Breeders' Stakes (1600m) in March.
“I was happy with her, she's improving and as these mares get older they just take a little bit longer to come up. She's going in the right direction,” he said.
Also by Ghibellines, Burgie was a Listed winner at three, while Capo Dell Impero has now recorded six victories from 25 starts, as well as a black-type placing in the Group 3 Canterbury Gold Cup (2000m), bringing his earnings just below $170,000.
“We stand Ghibellines and he's doing a really good job, he's pretty versatile too from two-year-olds right up to open-class horses, so we couldn't be happier with him,” Anderton said.