Palentino

Palentino (foaled 18 October 2012) is a Thoroughbred racehorse trained and bred in Australia. He won the Australian Guineas, a Group One race. He has won over 6 hundred thousand dollars.

Career

Palentino had his first race at Ballarat on 30 September 2015, finishing 2nd by a head and winning $3910. A fortnight later, he had his first win at Stawell.

On 7 November 2015, Palentino contested a listed race for the first time, winning by over a length at Flemington. Jockey Michelle Payne, who had recently won the Melbourne Cup, said, "Darren sent him to the beach and I didn't know what to expect today. He's progressed with each trial and run and is shaping as a horse in the making."^[1]

After a 3 month spell, Palentino returned in the Group 3 Manfred Stakes. After being held up, he finished 7th in what was called an "unlucky" run.^[2]

On 20 February 2016, Palentino was first past the post in the C S Hayes Stakes, but was reduced to 2nd on protest, after opposing jockey Craig Williams claimed there was interference 900 metres from the finish line. The decision to strip Palentino of victory was, "met with a chorus of outrage from disgruntled racing fans across the country."^[3]

A fortnight later, Palentino was again subject to a protest after finishing first in the Group 1 Australian Guineas, with Tarzino's jockey Craig Newitt claiming interference with 600 metres remaining and again in the straight. This time the protest was dismissed, with stewards saying the opposing horse had also rolled towards Palentino. Jockey Mark Zahra said, "It was a shame we had to go through all that because you can’t enjoy the moment and then you have to sweat it out. It means a lot and I said after last time, I’ll cop that as long as we win the Guineas."^[4]

Palentino's next appearance was in the Friday night Alister Clark Stakes at Moonee Valley. After hitting the lead earlier than expected, he weakened in the final 100 metres and finished second behind Tally.^[5]

References