Fabrizio bounces back after torrid Epsom
Fabrizio has bounced back from his Epsom Handicap effort to earn a possible trip to Melbourne with a benchmark win at Randwick.
The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained gelding finished 10th in the Epsom on on October 1 after leading by as much as 10 lengths when ridden by Johann Victoire.
Josh Parr had his first ride on Fabrizio on Saturday and while he led all the way, the $1.70 favourite still had plenty in hand at the end of the 1600m.
“He is just a very difficult horse to ride,” Parr said.
“From the moment you sit on him he just has you working to the time you get off him. It is just a matter of keeping him grounded and just teaching him some racing manners.
“I think maybe the Epsom had something to do with him wanting to get running today. Thankfully it was a low-pressure race and we got away with it. “
Bott said he was pleased with the horse’s rhythm and said he and Waterhouse would consider overnight where to race the gelding next.
“He is a really tough horse. He has had a couple of tough runs in his time and to bounce back as strong as that – full credit to the horse,” Bott said.
“He has got the options to freshen up for a race like the Villiers Stakes or we have the potential to take him straight down to Melbourne.”
“I have a couple of nice races for him down there and he should be able to measure up.”