Up-and-coming star Dolcetto remains unbeaten in 2017
FIVE-YEAR-OLD gelding Dolcetto came into the Johnson Brothers Open as the hot $2.10 favourite and that was justified come race day.
The Sylvia Kay-trained gelding was the form runner of the field having not been beaten since October, 2016, and it made it four consecutive wins this year with another gutsy effort at Tauherenikau.
We spoke to trainer Sylvia Kay earlier this week and she was worried about the sticky track conditions, but the son of Per Incanto was able to come up underneath the leaders around the home turn in the worst part of the track.
“Today he was struggling in the ground around the top,” jockey Samantha Collett said. “I was lucky I had the pull in the weights, but in saying that he’s only young in terms of racing and he just loves the fight.”
Dolcetto had to fight for the win as 2017 Opunake Cup winner Longchamp looked to have the edge coming into the straight, but Dolcetto went through the gears before eyeballing Longchamp and pulling away close to the line.
“I gave him a dig and he pulled me right to Longchamp. He just wants to stay there and fight with him the whole way,” Collett said.
“I don’t think he’ll ever run away from them. It’s a bit of a game for him now.”
It was having just its ninth career start on Saturday and remains unbeaten from five starts on a heavy track, but Kay indicated earlier this week that the Hastings spring carnival could be on the agenda.
Collett was prepared to travel to the bottom of the North Island to ride the talented gelding and she believes it will continue to improve.
“He just keeps improving every time he’s been asked the task,” Collett said. “That’s what I like most about this horse.
“He’s a very encouraging horse to ride and he makes my job very easy.”
Dolcetto isn’t currently nominated for any of the Hawke’s Bay spring features, but with another win under its belt and better weather on the horizon, we wouldn’t be surprised to see Dolcetto lining up in the Windsor Park Plate on September 23.
Punters can bet on the Windsor Park Plate with Sportsbet.com.au and find all the race information here.
Johnson Brothers Open Handicap result (19/08/2017)
1st – Dolcetto ($2.10/$1.40)
2nd – Longchamp ($1.90)
3rd – El Pescado (NTD)
Quinella – $2.80
Trifecta – $11.20
First Four – $49.50