Talented Darci Brahma three-year-old Malandrino hinted at bigger things on Saturday with a brilliant performance at Awapuni in the G3 Manawatu Classic.
Trained by Murray Baker, Malandrino (Darci Brahma x Staryn Glenn) could not have been more impressive with jockey James McDonald aboard, racing handy during the trip and tearing away from his rivals to win his first stakes race by two-and-a-half-lengths.
McDonald declared after the race that Malandrino was "something special and will go right to the top."
In just a short career, the three-year-old ran fifth in the Listed Championship Stakes Prelude (2100m) in December last year before being given a break from the track. He made a winning return, beating the older horses at Waipa on March 13 at his last start.
Plans for the three-year-old are yet to be confirmed but a late entry to the G1 AJC Derby has not been ruled out. The G1 South Australian Derby is also on the cards.
Bred and sold by Graham & Helen-Gaye Bax, Malandrino is raced by JML Bloodstock Ltd and was purchased by Bruce Perry Bloodstock from Blandford Lodge at New Zealand Bloodstock's 2010 Karaka Premier Sale for $95,000.
His seven starts have netted three wins and two placings for over $55,000 in stakes.
Malandrino is the fourth stakes winner for his sire Darci Brahma whose progeny had an excellent weekend on the track with Super Easy winning the 3YO Sprint in Singapore.
Darci Brahma sired his first Group 1 winner two weeks ago with Artistic winning the Group 1 New Zealand Oaks and he currently heads the NZ Sires' Premiership by 3YO winners with 17, three clear of O'Reilly on 14.
Saturday's Awapuni meeting was packed with eye-catching performances and few came better than that of Green Supreme in the Listed Fairdale/Goodwood Studs Flying Handicap.
Bringing up the stakes double for jockey James McDonald, Green Supreme (Oasis Dream x Haibah) came from near last and flew home on the outside of the field, making up many lengths on the breakaway race leaders to claim his first black-type race by a length.
The 1400m win was the five-year-old's first at a distance less than 1600m, making it all the more impressive given that he beat a field full of well-credentialed sprinters.
Green Supreme put together three wins earlier in the season culminating with an impressive victory in the Dunstan Feeds Championship Final (2200m) at Ellerslie on New Year's Day.
His trainer Graham Richardson is keen to give the son of Oasis Dream his shot at Group 1 level and will send the five-year-old to the Group 1 Easter Handicap at Ellerslie on April 14.
Bred by Bob Emery, Green Supreme was purchased by Magus Equine from Belvedere Farm at New Zealand Bloodstock's 2008 Karaka Premier Sale for $440,000. His 18 career starts have seen him take five wins for just shy of $130,000 in stakes.
