Castelvecchio’s first foals simply Sensazionale!

Bellissimo, Sensazionale, Perfetto!

These exuberant Italian words all describe the first foals by double Group 1 winner Castelvecchio, who served a book of 142 mares in 2020.

Named by his Sydney owners Ottavio & Wendy Galletta for an old castle in northern Italy, Castelvecchio joined the roster in 2020 after a meteoric $2.9 million racing career that included the Inglis Millennium and Group 1 victories at two and three.

Photographs of two early Castelvecchio foals were taken this week and it’s easy to see why the team at Arrowfield is so happy with them. 

Nominations Manager Sally Gordon says, “One of the advantages of standing a horse we also bred and sold is that we have a good record of his own development as a foal and yearling. 

“Looking back at our team’s notes after Castelvecchio was born, I see that he was rated highly as an attractive type with good size, body, bone and  conformation. That also describes the foals we’re seeing now and we’re rapt with them.”

Arrowfield’s first Castelvecchio foal is a bay colt delivered on 30 July by Valley Of Light (by Dubawi), a winning daughter of US Listed winner Elusive Sparkle, a half-sister of US Champion 2YO Colt and Group 1 sire Street Sense.

The Castelvecchio-Fast Eva filly arrived on 16 August and is the second foal of her dam, a winning Fastnet Rock daughter of the very good, Group-winning mare Graceful Anna. 

Not surprisingly, both Valley Of Light and Fast Eva will return to Castelvecchio this Spring, along with 42 other Arrowfield mares by the likes of Redoute’s Choice, Flying Spur, Hussonet, Not A Single Doubt, Snitzel & Starcraft.