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In-form Matamata stablemates Sagunto and Giacomo have Group targets on their programs and will bid to add further momentum on their home track on Saturday to trainer and part-owner Peter McKay’s plans.
The former's short-term goal is the Gr.3 Humphries Construction Manawatu Cup (2300m) at Awapuni on December 18 while the Gr.1 Vodafone New Zealand Derby (2400m) at Ellerslie on March 5 is the longer-term aim for his younger barnmate.
Sagunto has won three of his last four starts and will attempt to continue his hot run of form when he makes his open class debut in the Dunstan Feeds Championship Qualifier (2000m), for which he is a $3.80 favourite.
"He has stepped up nicely since we have got him over ground. I'm looking at the Manawatu Cup for him and it would have been three weeks between runs so I thought I would back him up and this is a nice stepping-stone," McKay said.
Sagunto led all the way to score most recently at Otaki with the trainer's son Shaun in the saddle and it will be more of the same at Matamata.
"The horse has strengthened, but more so I've had problems with riders just not letting him run along. He's just one of those horses that likes to get his own way," McKay said.
"He doesn't run fast sectionals, just solid ones all the way. I had a couple of conversations with Shaun about it last season and then I put a couple of other apprentices on and they kept sitting on him and holding him up.
"Shaun knows to start quickening on him down the back and that's how he has to be ridden."
Stablemate Giacomo will step out in the Waikato Stud Handicap (1500m) off the back of a special victory for connections to savour last time out.
The three-year-old was the first winner for his Mapperley Stud-based sire Puccini, who McKay prepared to win the Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) and the Gr.1 Thorndon Mile (1600m).
Giacomo had finished fifth in each of his first two appearances before he broke through on a better track at Rotorua last month.
"It was a very satisfying win, having raced Puccini. He struck a couple of off tracks and we were hoping once he got on top of the ground he would go a bit better and he did," McKay said.
"The track at Rotorua suited him and Shaun got him to settle and switch off nicely and he found another gear and, hopefully, he will measure up again on Saturday."
McKay believed the best would be seen of Giacomo when he steps up to 2000m and beyond.
"We'll do that after Christmas and he is going to furnish into a nice stayer. He's a big, raw-boned horse at the moment and close to 500kg now," he said.
"I'll take him through his grades so it's race by race at the moment and then see if we can have a go at the New Zealand Derby in March."
Giacomo was bred by Mapperley Stud principal Simms Davison and secured by McKay and partners after he initially failed to meet his $8000 reserve at New Zealand Bloodstock's National Yearling Sale.
McKay has another son of Puccini in Wolfgang, who also holds a nomination for the Derby.
He has yet to win in 10 starts, but was placed in last season's Gr.3 Woburn Farm Classic (1200m) and the Listed Wellesley Stakes (1000m). He recently finished runner-up at the Taupo trials ahead of a new campaign.
