Written by Paul Vettise
Arrowfield Stud has acquired a controlling interest in the Group 1 winner Castelvecchio (Dundeel {NZ}), who will eventually stand alongside his sire in the Upper Hunter Valley.
An Agreement has been reached in the days after the colt’s outstanding run for second in the G1 Cox Plate with original owners Ottavio and Wendy Galletta to remain in the ownership and Arrowfield principal John Messara will manage the 3-year-old's future racing career.
Castelvecchio, who will continue to be trained at Warwick Farm by Richard Litt, was awarded a Timeform rating of 124 after his runner-up finish at The Valley.
“Nothing much will change and we’ll program his racing for next autumn in due course,” Messara said. “He’s having a break for five weeks and we’re pretty excited about him.
“He will be a great stud opportunity, he’s free of Danehill and his sire is doing great things.”
“He will be a great stud opportunity, he’s free of Danehill and his sire is doing great things.” – John Messara
Castelvecchio aside, Dundeel has also produced the dual Group 1 winner and champion New Zealand 2-year-old Yourdeel (NZ), the G1 Caulfield Guineas winner Super Seth and the G1 Kenilworth Cape Derby winner Atyaab.
Castelvecchio as a yearling
A $150,000 purchase out of Arrowfield’s Inglis Classic Yearling Sale draft, Castelvecchio is a half-brother to the G1 Spring Champion S. winner Maid Of Heaven (Smart Missile).
Their dam St Therese (Dehere {USA}) was a dual stakes winner and multiple Group 1 placegetter and she is a half-sister to the five-time Group 1 winner Planet Ruler (Kaoru Star) and is also the family of the G3 Rotorua S. winner Tomelilla (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}).
Champagne season
Castelvecchio was a debut winner last season before he claimed the $2 million Inglis Millennium and subsequently finished third in the G1 ATC Sires’ Produce S. and closed his 2-year-old campaign with victory in the G1 Champagne S.
This term, he was second in the G1 Spring Champion S. before he beat all but Lys Gracieux (Jpn) (Heart’s Cry {Jpn}) in the Cox Plate.
“Wow, he was so awesome in defeat. The Japanese brought the right form. Credit to my trainer, Richard Litt, he did a great job,” jockey Craig Williams said.
“He’s a serious racehorse when it comes to having the blinkers on. He’s going to be a star of our carnivals to come.”
