Falino in Top Form

Promising three year-old Falino (3g Fusaichi Pegasus x Danamala, by Danehill) has been flying below the radar, but he burst to prominence at Doomben on Saturday when narrowly beating seasoned stakes horses Spirit of Boom and Skilled in the Group III BRC Classic over 1350 metres. Trained on the track by Jeffrey Caught, Falino was a close up fourth to Military Rose in the recent Group III Gold Coast Guineas and was able to improve on that to score his first Black Type win. The three year-old gelding has won four races and placed twice from eight starts earning $202,050, not a bad return for a horse that was purchased by his trainer for just $14,000 at the Inglis Winter Thoroughbred Sale last year as an unraced two year-old. Bred by Kia Ora Stud, Falino is the first stakes-winner for imported Danehill mare Danamala (GB), a sister to Group II winner Royal Dragon from the family of champion racehorse and sire Chief’s Crown. He is also sadly the last foal of Danamala, who died in 2009. Falino is the 56^th stakes-winner worldwide for Kentucky Derby winner Fusaichi Pegasus, who shuttled to Australia from Coolmore in America for seven seasons, his final Australian foals now two year-olds.