Group One treble – #1: Castelvecchio’s Rosehill Guineas
Castelvecchio emulates his sire Dundeel with a dynamic victory in the ATC Rosehill Guineas G1. (PHOTO: Bronwen Healy)
On a day when the Australian thoroughbred industry was grateful to be racing at all, Castelvecchio landed the first victory in Arrowfield’s stunning Group One treble at Rosehill.
The 3YO son of Dundeel was re-united in the $600,000 ATC Rosehill Guineas 2000m G1 with his Cox Plate pilot Craig Williams, who placed him in a more forward position than usual, on the fence behind the early leaders.
A straightforward run put Castelvecchio in the clear on the turn, and after gaining the lead 100 metres later, he held off and then surged away from the determined Prince Fawaz, with another Arrowfield graduate Reloaded (Snitzel-Hollow Bullet) sticking on well for third.
As Castelvecchio’s trainer Richard Litt said, “He showed his true colours and we’re so proud of him.”
A Group 1 at Two, and now a Group 1 at Three!
Castelvecchio wins the the Sky Racing Active Rosehill Guineas with a masterful ride from @CWilliamsJockey for trainer @littracing, in an exciting event!@atc_races pic.twitter.com/nfJ7Kw1AKX
— Sky Racing (@SkyRacingAU) March 21, 2020
Castelvecchio’s Rosehill Guineas success emulates Arrowfield graduate The Autumn Sun last year, and his own sire in 2013. He is also the fourth Arrowfield-bred-&-sold Group 1 winner this season after Super Seth, Alabama Express and Tagaloa.
As a brilliant Inglis Millennium winner, Group 1 winner at two and three and Cox Plate runner-up, Castelvecchio’s CV already holds plenty of appeal for Australian breeders, but he has more to do on the racetrack first. He is nominated for the Australian Derby and Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at The Championships and, all going well, will be at Moonee Valley again in October.
