Capel trainer Lou Luciani pulled off a feature race double with Marocchino (Maschino) in the LR Detonator Stakes (1800m) at Ascot on Saturday and Hot Zed (Red Hot Choice) in the LR Pinjarra Classic (1300m) on Sunday.
Marocchino has been a wonderful money-spinner for Luciani and his partner Trish Roberts who bred and race him with brothers Mark & Paul Luzi. He’s won 12 of 46 starts and has earned $1,149,200 including Westspeed Bonuses of $231,000.
The winning connections are plotting a career-high pay-day in the G1 Australian Cup (2000m) at Flemington on March 25. It carries total prizemoney of $3 million. “He’s pulling on the big boys over there but deserves a crack,” Luciani told The Western Australian. “He had to do that to warrant a trip east and he will fly out later this week.”
Marocchino (Photo / Western Racepix) was last seen winning the G2 Ted van Heemst Stakes (2400m) in December and the 6yo geldinbg adopted those trademark front-running tactics for Troy Turner on Saturday.
“I was confident he could win but he strode along in the lead and I thought he would start feeling the pinch in the straight,” Luciani admitted. “But we set him for the Detonator and he’s done what we expected.”
His dam Comesitbesideme (McFlirt) foaled a full-sister to Marocchino in October. Their sire Maschino (Encosta de Lago) stands at Alwyn Park and he completed a winning double at Ascot last Wednesday with Another Chino and One Cool Gal.
Maschino had 6 yearlings average $99,167 at the Perth Magic Millions Sale last week topped by the Mungrup filly from Cosmah Domination (Lot 74) that was purchased by Neville Parnham and Ridgeport Holdings for $235,00.
Hot Zed swamped the leaders in the Pinjarra Classic after they set some quick sectionals on Sunday. “He was jumping out of his skin before I got on him,” Turner said. “He had the leaders covered on straightening. Louie told me to have him handy because they should come back and that’s what happened.”
It was Hot Zed’s third Listed success in as many years following the 2021 Carbine Club Stakes and 2022 Scenic Blast Stakes. He was one of just six foals from the final crop of Mungrup sire Red Hot Choice (Redoute’s Choice).
