He has been a work in progress on the trial track, but the John O’Shea-trained Ravello has brought out his A-game on race day with a smart debut win at Warwick Farm.
The son of Savabeel settled off the speed when soundly beaten in his two barrier trials, however he showed the benefit of those educational hit-outs in Wednesday’s Arrowfield – A Tradition of Greatness Handicap (1400m).
Given a beautiful run just behind the speed by Brenton Avdulla, Ravello ($19) peeled off the backs of the leaders and surged clear to edge out the well-related Kintyre ($19), a half-brother to 2022 Golden Slipper winner Fireburn, with race leader Inhibitions ($5 equal fav) holding on for third.
While the winner snuck under the guard of punters, O’Shea’s stable representative Tom Charlton said the youngster had shown ability at home but had been a slow burn.
“You see him physically, he’s an imposing horse but he’s probably just been a bit babyish and lazy in his trials,” Charlton said.
“They’ve obviously woken him up and when he took a good spot from the gate today, he got to show what he’s all about.
“He’s going to be a really nice horse going forward.”
Ravello holds an entry for the Group 1 Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) at Randwick during The Championships, while races like Saturday week’s TL Baillieu Handicap (1400m) at Rosehill are also in the mix.
Given the colt’s breeding, he is expected to be a better horse again at three and there is also the option to give him a light first campaign and spell him for the spring.
“Races like the Baillieu may come too quickly next weekend, we’ll just see how he comes through it,” Charlton said.
“If not, you’ve got other races down the back end of the carnival, or even Queensland, or as a three-year-old in the spring where you’re going to really see the best of him.”
Former New Zealander Goldman ($2.40 fav) likewise made a mark at the midweek meeting, backing up a dominant win at his Australian debut at Kembla Grange to thump his rivals in the Furphy Handicap (2400m) by more than 5-1/2 lengths.
Co-trainer Adrian Bott said they would continue to take the stayer through his grades and hoped he could “develop into a lovely horse in twelve months’ time”.
“He’s still a raw horse and we’re still learning about him, but he’s got plenty of upside,” Bott said.