Saratoga Black too strong for favourite Estejo
Report: Italy, Sunday
San Siro: Premio Ambrosiano (Group 3) 1m2f, turf, 4yo+
SARATOGA BLACK (Bruno Grizzetti/Fabio Branca) gained the sixth win of his 18-race career by beating dual Group 1 winner and favourite Estejo in thePremio Ambrosiano.
The first two are expected to clash again in next month's Group 1 Premio Presidente Della Repubblica at Capannelle.
The winner tracked front-running Gasquet before taking the lead entering the final two furlongs.
Saratoga Black went two to three lengths clear approaching the furlong marker and was always holding the runner-up, who stayed on throughout the last 200 yards.
Saratoga Black had been surprisingly beaten on his seasonal return, but a number of Bruno Grizzetti's horses have been wanting a run this year.
>> Also on Sunday
San Siro: Premio Emanuele Filiberto (Listed) 1m2f, turf, 3yo colts and geldings
WARDER (Raffaele Bondi/Gregorio Arena) was thesurprise winner of this traditional trial for the Derby Italiano, overturning recent course-and-distance form with Mister Sandro and Vola E Va.
This success completed a great family double as his half-brother is Saratoga Black, who won the Group 3 Premio Ambrosiana earlier on the card.
The blinkered Warder was settled in last place as Grecale cut out the running but made good progress on the inside to lead entering the final three furlongs.
The winner and runner-up Smoking Joe pulled clear of the rest from two out, although Warder always held the upper hand with winning rider Gregorio Arena able to ease down and salute spectators before he had reached the line.
A son of Ivan Denisovich, Warder is expected to go straight to the Group 2 Derby at Capannelle on May 20 and has now won two and been placed in three of his five starts. Smoking Joe will almost certainly reoppose in the Classic, where the probability of faster ground could be to his advantage.
