Dolcetto chasing Tarzino spot

Levin trainer Sylvia Kay is hoping a bold performance at Waverley on Saturday will be enough to sneak Dolcetto into the Gr.1 Tarzino Trophy (1400m) at Hastings in a fortnight.

Dolcetto is currently lying 21st equal in order of entry into the weight-for-age feature, which is limited to 16 starters, and he also holds nominations for the Gr.1 Windsor Park Plate (1600m) on September 22 and the Gr.1 Livamol Classic (2040m) on October 6.

“I’d like to do all three big ones at Hastings,” Kay said. “He did the three days when he started off racing.”

Kay was referring to Dolcetto winning his second race in his third start on Tarzino Trophy day two years ago when beating the subsequent dual Group Three winner and Gr.1 VRC Oaks (2500m) placegetter Eleonora then finishing second to the rising star Francaletta on the second and third days of the 2016 Hawke’s Bay Spring Carnival.

Dolcetto carried on to be unbeaten in his next five starts, culminating in his defeat of Group One winner Authentic Paddy in the Gr.3 Metric Mile (1550m) at Awapuni last September.

The Per Incanto gelding resumed with a fourth at Trentham in June and didn’t start again until late last month when second to Rosewood over 1200m at Awapuni.

Kay entrusted young Levin apprentice Sam O’Malley with the ride on Dolcetto last month and she is giving him another opportunity on Saturday, just over a week since the 19-year-old landed his first win on High Quality at Woodville.

“We’ll use Sam’s four kilo claim again,” Kay said.

“He rode him well enough last time. The horse needed it and he’s still a bit burly. This run will sharpen him up for Hastings.

“He’s deceptive in his work. He never blows and he does it easy. It’s hard to get a line on him, but he’s improving all the time.”

O’Malley’s 4kg allowance will bring Dolcetto down to 56.5kg, 2.5kg above the minimum.

“Kevin Myers is going for the claim, too, on Scapolo and Duffer’s Creek so our boy needs the claim if he’s going to be competitive,” Kay said.

Scapolo, who recorded his 20th win when scoring at Riccarton last start, will benefit with the 3kg claim of Zinjete Moki, reducing him from the topweight of 62.5kg, while Temyia Taiaroa will bring Duffers Creek’s handicap down by 4kg from 57.5kg.

Duffers Creek credited Taiaroa with a first win at Woodville last Thursday, four races after O’Malley’s milestone.