PREMIO PRIMI PASSI,
Gr.3, 2 y.o.,1200 metres,
Milano, San Siro, June 25, 2000, good

1. ROLLY POLLY, f.b. by Mukaddamah out Rare Sound by Rarity, owner: Mack Ferrer, breeder: Mr. M. Parola, trainer: B. Grizzetti, jockey: M. Demuro,
2. EURIBOR, m.b. by Indian Ridge out Anna Grassi by Bound for Honour, O.: Scuderia Tamara, B.: Scuderia Tamara, T.: O. Pessi, J.: D. Vargiu,
3. TRICKY DICK, m.b. by Presidium out Mrs. Magic by Magic Mirror, O.: Stall Millenium, B.: E.J.B. Maude (GB), T.: B. Hellier, J.: P. Roberts,
4. GREEN SENSAZIONE, f.b. by Green Desert out Sensazione by Cadeaux Genereux, O.: Scuderia Blueberry, B.: Scuderia Blueberry, T.: B: Grizzetti, J.: M. Esposito,
5. Green Wind . Also ran: Mister Pekan, Cuore Padano, Ruby Queen, Napola.

Analysis:

The Premio Primi Passi is the first Italian group race for two years old in the year, and in the past few years was gained by horses, as a rule purchased yearlings at English – Ireland sales or, in any case, strictly connected, from the genealogical point of view, with commercial bloodlines developed in the British Isle, who then were not generally in great evidence at 3 years.

But in the last two runnings appeared the German representatives, and with notable success (2 victories; in 1999 running, three of the first four came from Germany) and also in this 2000 running one third of the field arrived from the country of walkiries and between these Ruby Queen was supposed to be a possible winner, since she had captured a victory in Baden Baden, in front of 8 males.

Instead after a start rather not linear, that harmed Green Wind, won the betting favourite (at 2/1) Rolly Polly, trained by the young and active Bruno Grizzetti, trainer also of the fourth arrived and of Mister Pekan, who seems designed at brilliant prospects.

Rolly Polly, remaining on two victories (at debut in Torino, the first of May, and then in Roma in the Premio Alessandro Perrone, listed, run two days before the Italian Derby), is owned by a sportsman that is present in the sport from many years, above all as a breeder. In fact he imported Rare Sound, Rolly Polly’s mother (purchased at December Sales ’89, thorough BBA-Italia agent, for 12.000 Guineas), reselling her in the 1995 to Mr. Mario Parola, the breeder of Rolly Polly.

Rare Sound, a moderate winner at 2 y.o. at Yarmouth, left a winner of her same low value in Great Britain and others in Italy, anonymous too, before Rolly Polly who was born by Mukaddamah, the nth son of Northern Dancer at stud, branch of Storm Bird, race horse of good but not remarkable level, sire with a stud fee of 5000 IRE Guineas (4000 in the year of Rolly Polly conception), rather valued in Italy where his sons Stanott (Premio Emilio Turati, Gr.2) and My Funny Valentine (Premio Vittorio Crespi, listed) showed very impressive racing qualities.

Since also the female line (fem. 2i) is from a few generations without members of high level (just Rare Sound’s mother, Haunting, only placed at the tracks, was able to generate runners of reliable standard: Our Martin in Denmark and Sweden, Amigo Sucio, 2nd top rated 2 y.o. in Germany in 1986 and Hartburn Sarah, listed level in Italy) the omens and the expectations are not very propitious for Rolly Polly’s future career.

Nevertheless it must be marked in favour of Rolly Polly an excellent morphology, a kind and quiet disposition and a genuine race propensity, all important peculiarities, which she emphasized in the finish of Premio Primi Passi, forcing back with appreciable certainty, Euribor, a male by Indian Ridge, winner at debut and then 2nd in a listed race at Capannelle (Roma).

Roma, June 27, 2000

(Leonello Falco)

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