George Scott Strikes in Italy with Premio Gran Criterium Hero Gaga Mate

[Wandering Eyes]

George Scott and Victorious Forever enjoyed another successful international raid on Sunday when plundering the G3 Premio Gran Criterium at San Siro Racecourse with Gaga Mate (Mehmas).

Last seen finishing fifth in Doncaster's Weatherbys Scientific £300,000 2-Y-O Stakes, Gaga Mate was settled in mid-division in the early stages of this seven-and-a-half-furlong contest, before responding generously to jockey Billy Loughnane's urgings when ridden two furlongs out. Assuming command from the long-time leader and favourite Zuender (Amaron) inside the final 100 yards, he stuck to his task well from there to land the spoils by a length and a quarter, with fellow Newmarket raider Sunset On Leros (Almanzor) finishing just a head behind Zuender in third.

For Scott the victory continued a productive spell on the international stage, having recently gained his first Group 1 success when Caballo De Mar (Phoenix Of Spain) won the Prix du Cadran at ParisLongchamp. The same horse had previously emulated stablemate Prydwen (Camelot) to give the trainer back-to-back wins in the G3 Deutsches St. Leger.

Pedigree Notes

Bred by John Connaughton, Gaga Mate is the first runner out of the winning Siyouni mare Truth Prevails who, in turn, is out of a half-sister to the multiple Group 1-winning sire Postponed (Dubawi) and G1 Premio Lydia Tesio heroine God Given (Nathaniel). God Given herself is the dam of the multiple Group 2 winner Silver Knott (Lope De Vega).

Gaga Mate, who holds an entry in the Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale, was bought by Dylan Cunha Racing and Jamie Piggott for €20,000 at Book 1 of the Goffs Orby Yearling Sale. He was sold privately to Victorious Racing and moved to the Scott stable after making a winning debut for Cunha at Catterick back in May.

The post George Scott Strikes in Italy with Premio Gran Criterium Hero Gaga Mate appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

View the full article