Derby aspirations for Artzino

Trainers Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr believe they have their hands on another talented son Tarzino.

The stable has a close association with the Westbury Stud stallion, having won four of his 14 starts for Price, including the Gr.1 Victoria Derby (2500m) and Gr.1 Rosehill Guineas (2000m).

His son Jungle Magnate represented the stable well last season where he won three of his eight starts, including the Gr.1 South Australian Derby (2500m) and Gr.3 Chairman’s Stakes (2000m) before his sale to Hong Kong.

His trainers believe they have found a worthy replacement in Artzino, who was runner-up over 1400m on debut last August before winning over 1500m a fortnight later, with his first racing preparation culminating with a fourth placing in the Listed Super Impose Stakes (1800m).

The three-year-old gelding is on a path towards the Gr.1 Australian Derby (2400m) and is set to kick-off his preparation in the Gr.2 Autumn Stakes (1400m) next month.

“I love that horse,” Kent Jnr told RSN.

“He is a nice horse and has got a turn of foot for a Tarzino, not too dissimilar to Jungle Magnate. He has got a nice way about him.

“He had a jumpout last week and is off to the Geelong trials next Tuesday for his second trial.

“He will kick-off in the Autumn Stakes and then we do plan to go to the Autumn Classic (Gr.2, 1800m), which is two weeks later.

“He will then either go to the Alister Clarke (Gr.1, 2040m) or Rosehill Guineas (Gr.1, 2000m) on his path towards the Derby.”

Artzino was purchased by his trainers, in partnership with bloodstock agent Phill Cataldo, out of Seaton Park’s 2021 New Zealand Bloodstock Book 1 Yearling sale draft for $60,000.