Grande Rosso to continue consistent form
Co-trainer Tom Dabernig is as surprised as anyone with the consistency Grande Rosso has shown since joining the stable.
After beginning his career with now-disqualified trainer Mark Riley, Grande Rosso had one run for Wez Hunter before joining the Lindsay Park operation.
In five runs for the stable, Grande Rosso has recorded three wins, including the Listed Chester Manifold Stakes, and accumulated more than $200,000 prize money.
Grande Rosso chases another $72,000 purse when he runs in the Listed John Dillon Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on Thursday.
The gelding’s only poor run for Lindsay Park came in early November when he finished seventh at Flemington but Dabernig said that run taught the stable a lot about him.
“We didn’t have a lot of expectation when he first came to us,” Dabernig said.
“When you are given a new horse you watch all their replays and after one run for Wez Hunter he ended up with us.
“I must say he did arrive in really good condition and looked well but he was a little keen and wanted to do things in a bit of a rush.
“A lot of horses can be like that so we just tried a lot of stuff to keep him calm by not doing as much galloping on the track.”
Grande Rosso does all his work at Lindsay Park’s country property and makes his way to the Flemington yard a couple of days before he races.
Instead of a solid hit-out close to his scheduled race, that gallop takes place six or seven days before.
Dabernig remains confident Grande Rosso can keep his consistency going on Thursday.
“You always wonder with these horses how long they can hold their purple patch of form,” Dabernig said.
“At the moment he looks fantastic and we’ve treated him very similarly to what we have with his other runs.”
Regan Bayliss again partners Grande Rosso after the pair combined in the Chester Manifold at Flemington on January 14.
Bayliss is chasing his first stakes win as a senior jockey after successfully applying to end his apprenticeship early.
“I think he’ll graduate to senior ranks pretty easily,” Dabernig said.
“He’s in good form and getting on good horses at the moment.
“He’s as good a young jockey as any I have seen.”