French-bred galloper San Fabrizio joined the growing list of Australian winners by Champion Haras de Bonneval stallion Siyouni (Fr) when he claimed the Morley Growers Market Hcp (1400m) at Belmont last Wednesday.
San Fabrizio was racing first-up for trainer Stephen Miller and a syndicate managed by Rod Russell (Horseshoe Investments). He got the to the front in the straight then looked around at the new surroundings before holding out Secret Identity (So Secret) and Tiff’s Lad (God Has Spoken).
San Fabrizio (6g Siyouni – Ponte Sanangelo by Authorized) commenced his career under the name Fabulousio winning the Prix Pimpim (1600m) at Lyon in May 2020. Sent to Hong Kong, he failed to fire in three starts for trainer Dennis Yip and a further move to Melbourne saw him unplaced in four starts for Chris Waller earlier this season.
“Damien Oliver recommended the horse and his mum Pat and wife Trish are in the ownership,” Miller said. “He rode him in Melbourne and cost us $42,500. I think he can go on and be a Saturday winner up to 2000m.”
Oliver famously partnered Doriemus (NZ) to victory in the 1995 Melbourne Cup for a syndicate that included Russell and Keith Biggs.
San Fabrizio is the 16th winner by Siyouni (Pivotal) in Australia and the best by daylight is Perth filly Amelia’s Jewel who won the 2022 Group 1 Northerly Stakes (1800m) at Ascot for her owner-breeder Peter Walsh.
Amelia’s Jewel resumed work at Amelia Park Farm on the same day that San Fabrizio scored at Belmont. Walsh and trainer Simon Miller have announced her spring grand-final will likely come down to a decision between the $5 million Group 1 W S Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley and $10 million Golden Eagle (1500m) at Rosehill.
Both races are scheduled for Saturday, October 28.
Meanwhile, Amelia’s Jewel’s Irish-bred dam Bumbasina (Canford Cliffs) is due to deliver another Siyouni foal to southern-hemisphere time at Normandy-based Haras du Buff in August.
Bumbasina pictured at Haras du Buff earlier this month
“The scans indicate she’s carrying a colt,” Walsh said in an interview earlier this year. “We were very lucky to get in. Siyouni had a minor setback and his southern season was restricted to three mares.
“Bumbasina will stay up there and be covered again by Siyouni or Frankel.”
