General Rippa burst into contention for the Group I MRC
Blue Diamond Stakes with a strong finishing win in today's Group III MRC Blue
Diamond Prelude (1100m) for colts and geldings at Caulfield .
Under the urgings of champion jockey Damien Oliver, General Rippa produced a
stunning burst from the back of the field to win impressively.
A $65,000 bargain buy for trainer David Hayes at last year's Magic Millions
Gold Coast Yearling Sale, General Rippa (pictured) was bred and sold by Gerry Harvey's Baramul
Stud.
He will now head to Victoria's premier two-year-old contest after kicking away
his career in the best possible way with a Group Three success.
"I love seeing these young horses come from last and finish powerfully on
debut," Hayes said.
"I like the racing pattern for the Blue Diamond. It's a high pressure race
and you love horses who are strong at the last 300 (metres).
"We thought he was pretty good and that's why we put him in the race but
he did a lazy bit of work on Monday which put me off slightly.
"But all his work until then (on Monday) was outstanding.
"I think he's pretty good," Hayes added.
Winning rider Damien Oliver said he didn't know a lot about General Rippa leading into the race, but he was suitably impressed with the winning performance.
"He didn't know much early (in the race)," Oliver said. "He was a bit content to sit back and watch them.
"He took a nice gap in the straight and then at the finish he really didn't
know about putting them away."He's still very raw. He's a long way from knowing what it's all about and the extra distance certainly won't hurt him," Oliver added.
The 37th individual stakes winner for former star Widden Stud sire General Nediym (pictured) and yet another recent stakes-winner bred by Gerry Harvey, General Rippa is the second winner for two to race for his dam Nazzuca.
An unraced daughter of Canny Lad, Nazzuca is out of the Group I VATC Thousand Guineas winner Azzurro.
Nazzuca has a colt foal by Bel Danoro and was covered last spring by Excites.
MM Release
