In Italian continues excellent run of form for Hazelwood Bloodstock and Dubawi

In Italian continued the excellent run of form for Hazelwood Bloodstock when setting a new course record in the Diana Stakes at Saratoga on Saturday as well as becoming Dubawi's 51st individual Group or Grade 1 winner.

Bred by Fairway Thoroughbreds, the daughter of Darley's supersire was following in the footsteps of another Hazelwood Bloodstock graduate in last week's Belmont Oaks heroine McKulick.

The four-year-old In Italian had sold to leading American agent Mike Ryan for 475,000gns from Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale in 2019, a year before McKulick changed hands to the same talent spotter for 180,000gns.

In Italian, who sports the colours of Peter Brant, was making it a second Graded success after victory in the Grade 3 Honey Fox Stakes at Gulfstream Park in March for trainer Chad Brown.

She was third to stablemate and fellow Brant-owned Regal Glory in the Grade 1 Just A Game Stakes at Belmont Park last month and second to another Chad and Brant runner in 2020 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches second Speak Of The Devil in the Grade 2 Distaff Turf Mile Stakes at Churchill Downs.

In Italian is the fifth foal out of the Redoute's Choice mare Florentina, herself a talented performer on the track who landed the Group 3 Gold Cup Guineas at the Gold Coast in Australia for Fairway and trainer David Payne.

The 13-year-old Florentina is a half-sister to Group 1 Railway Stakes winner Gathering and stakes scorer California Turbo. She has also produced Australian winners in the Group 2-placed Villa Carlotta, Fasano and Marching On.

Her daughter is a 51st top-level winner for Dubawi, who has sired 17 individual Group winners in 2022 including the likes of 2,000 Guineas and St James's Palace Stakes hero Coroebus, French 2,000 Guineas winner Modern Games, and Platinum Jubilee Stakes winner Naval Crown.

Hazelwood Bloodstock had enjoyed more success with their former graduates when the exciting Hans Andersen won at the second time of asking for Aidan O'Brien, the Coolmore partners and Westerberg in the opening maiden at the Curragh on Saturday.

The January-born son of Frankel was bred by Sun Bloodstock and sold to MV Magnier for 450,000gns from Book 1 last year. He is the second foal out of juvenile Listed winner Shadow Hunter, a daughter of Arcano and a half-sister to the prolific winner Brian The Snail.

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