(1) Premio Presidente della Repubblica,
Gr.1, 4 years old and up, metres 2000, wide track

Rome - Capannelle, May, 13, 2001; males Kg. 58, females Kg 561/2 ; good to firm

1st PAOLINI, b.m. 4 y.o. by Lando out Prairie Darling, by Stanford; Owner: Mrs C. Ostermann-Richter; Breeder: in Germany; trainer: A Woehler; Jockey: A. Suborics,

2nd KUTUB, b.m., 4 y.o., by In The Wings out Minnie Habit, by Habitat; O.: Godolphin; B.: Airlie Stud; T.: Saeed bin Suroor; J.: R. Hills,

3rd MON ALEXANDRINO, b.m., 5 y.o. by Ezzoud out Sombre Lady, by Sharpen Up, O.: Colle Papa Stable; B.: Satwa Farm (in France); T.: A. Renzoni; J.: M. Belli,

4th DI MOI OUI, b.f., 4 y.o. by Warning out Biosphere by Pharly; O. and B.: Grundy Bloodstock; T.: P. Bary; J.: M. Pasquale,

also run: 5th Fluxus, 6th Shibuni’s Falcon, 7th Slaney Square, 8th Apollo Wells, 9th Caluki, 10th Fairy Charm, 11th Boy Special, 12th Cranko.

Distances: 1½ l, 3 l, snout, 21/2 l, neck, 3 l, 2 l, ½ l, ½ l, 1 ¼ l, 11/4 l. Retired : Poseidon.

Analysis.

The Premio Presidente della Repubblica, 2001 running, can be resumed in the strong struggle, engaged in the stretch, between the “Godolphin” Kutub and the German Paolini, struggle that was decided in the last furlong in favour of the latter, appeared in the saddle ring very brawny, strong and fit.

The Italian colour-bearers, called not to an easy task considering the competitors’ value, fought, detached, for the third place and one of them, the extreme outsider in the field, succeeded in coming ahead the Italian, trained in France, Di Moi Oui, not at ease on the ground and in some troubles in the finish to spread the full gallop, also on a strip of ground not very suitable for her needs because of the lack of grass.

The winner, reappearing in the year, is not undeserved (3rd in the Italian Derby, 2000 running; then not placed in the German Derby but later on August, 2nd a head behind the very good Catella, in the Grosser Erdgas Preis, Gr.1 at Gelsenkirchen; then he ended his 3 y.o. racing career with a moderate 7th place in the Grosser Preis von Baden Baden, Gr.1, metres 2400) son of Lando, winner, at the beginning of the nineties, of 7 group 1 races (from Milan to Tokyo); he is still the richest European horse and began his stud career at a fee of 25.000 German Marks.

Add that the mother, Prairie Darling, is also the mother of Platini; the latter being another excellent German colour-bearer, winner of German Two Thousand Guineas and of Gran Premio di Milano, Gr.1, metres 2400 in the 1993; then he became a very considered sire with 37 black type horses already to his credit and with a stud fee of 15.000 German Marks for 2001 season.

The second at the finish, Kutub, was a very good 3 y.o. at the beginning of the year 2000 racing season (1st in the Prix Noailles, Gr.2, metres 2200, Longchamp, then good 4th in the Prix du Jockey Club – French Derby- and still placed in group races in summer at Deauville and in the Coupe de Maisons-Laffitte); then he displayed a poor form in the two winter starts in Dubai, at Nad al Sheeba track.

The 2001 running of Premio Presidente della Repubblica, not of very high level, indeed sub-standard, points out that the race rules (which admit to the race only 4 y.o. and up, with the exclusion of 3 y.o.) are unfair. This race was indeed, until recent years, a classic counter-check of Italian Derby (3 y.o. compared with older horses) on 2400 metres; now this race should instead become the most important test in the first half of the year in Italy for horses with “intermediate” aptitudes.

Roma, May, 16 2001

(Leonello Falco)