Ragazzo Mach (NZ) Reigns Supreme in Southern Victory

NZB Standardbred graduate Ragazzo Mach (NZ) (Mach Three) took out the $40,000 Group Two Alabar Southern Supremacy Stakes Final (2700m) with incredible ease at Ascot Park on Sunday. 

 

The three-year-old charged away from a classy field to win the time-honoured event by a massive five and a half lengths, without having to be asked for a serious effort by trainer-driver Nathan Williamson.

 

Ragazzo Mach was secured for $60,000 by Neville Cleaver from Pinelea Farm’s draft at NZB Standardbred’s 2019 National Yearling Sale in Christchurch.

 

Cleaver sold the colt to prominent West Australian owners Jim and Wilma Giumelli’s Giumelli Swandoo Harness Racing Syndicate in a landmark deal earlier this year.

 

Williamson confirmed after his win that Ragazzo Mach was cruising as he reeled off a sizzling 26.9sec last 400m.

 

“He did it really easy,” the-trainer driver said.

 

As Ragazzo Mach exploded away from his rivals, he stopped the clock in a 3.17.8 winning time.

 

That saw the NZB Standardbred graduate set two new records including the 2700m mobile Ascot Park track record, as well as breaking the Southern Supremacy Stakes for three-year-old pacing colts and geldings.

 

“He ran 3.17 today and he could have gone around again, I think he proved that he is a really top horse,” Williamson said.

 

Ragazzo Mach will now get a shot at Group One redemption during next month’s Harness Jewels.

 

An unlucky barrier draw wiped out his chances in his first shot at elite level racing during the Group One New Zealand Derby, but the pacer still managed to run some of the fastest closing sectionals of the race.

 

Ragazzo Mach was bred by Canterbury father and son duo, Emmet and Sean Daly.

 

Watching the colt score such a big win was an incredible thrill for the Dalys, but it also came as a relief following the reputation Ragazzo Mach has gained this season.

 

“It was a relief because he’s been talked up a bit and it was great for people to see how good he is,” Sean Daly said.

 

Daly described Ragazzo Mach as a young horse that had plenty of character, but one that matured into a magnificent yearling.

 

“At the yearling sales he really did look the part, he was a big foal and he was a bit of a handful.”

 

“But he was always impressive, right the way through,” he said.

 

The Dalys plan to offer a half-relation to Ragazzo Mach, a colt by Art Major (USA) out of Ragazza Bromac (NZ) (Falcon Seelster) at next year’s National Yearling Sale.

 

Consignor	Pinelea Farm
Purchaser	Mr NB Cleaver
Breeding	Mach Three x Ragazza Bromac
Sale	Lot 296, 2019 National Yearling Sale Christchurch, $60,000
Bred by	S P Daly and E L Daly