Top three-year-old planning Aussie raid

[Wandering Eyes]

Promising three-year-old Sacred Satono will join the team of Kiwis planning a raid on the riches of the Sydney Autumn Carnival when he returns to racing after a recent break.

The Bruce Wallace and Grant Cooksley-trained son of Satono Aladdin has been enjoying some time in the paddock following a determined effort for fifth in the Karaka Million 3YO Classic (1600m) at Pukekohe.

Cooksley is currently working through the final logistics of the Sydney trip which will see Sacred Satono kick off in the Listed Fireball Stakes (1100m) on March 4 at Randwick.

“He (Sacred Satono) has just come back in after a fortnight in the paddock,” Cooksley said.

“I think he is enjoying being back inside after all the rain we’ve had in Auckland lately.

“He is thriving and seems to be growing all the time, so we’re very happy with him.

“We had a talk about what was around and it seemed the best option might be in Sydney so we will take him straight there and target the Fireball Stakes as it is an 1100m race and is a good choice first up.

“If he performs to expectations then we will take a look at the Arrowfield Sprint (Gr.2, 1200m) a month later.

“He has proven he is up to the best of them here and people we have spoken to have said they think he is an ideal type to be competitive over there.”

Cooksley was left ruing a wide barrier draw in the Karaka 3YO Classic that saw his charge cover extra ground throughout the race before battling hard to finish less than two and a half lengths from the winner Prowess after coming from second last on the home bend.

“He just never got any luck last time and that wide draw cost us,” he said.

“No matter where he went, he got caught wide and he has run the second fastest last 600m coming wide around the last corner.

“I think with a draw like the winner had then he definitely runs in the money and maybe pushes the winner as well.”

A $34,000 Yearling purchase by Wallace from the Rich Hill Stud draft during the Book 2 sale at Karaka in 2021, Sacred Satono has won three of his 11 starts and joins Tokyo Tycoon and Grand Impact as stakes winners for his sire Satono Aladdin, a son of internationally recognised Japanese stallion Deep Impact.

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