Early Double Kicks Off Caravaggio’s Year

Caravaggio’s first three-year-olds have gotten a fast start in 2022 with Tiber Flow (3c Caravaggio x Malabar, by Raven’s Pass) and National Gallery (3c Caravaggio x Dora De Green, by Green Tune) both registering wins in the opening days of the year.

Tiber Flow registered his second victory in two starts for owner-breeders Jon and Julia Aisbitt when the William Haggas trainee returned to Newcastle a month after breaking his maiden on debut. Stepping up an extra furlong to seven furlongs in his second start, the 3-year-old made sure to keep his record perfect.

With Daniel Tudhope giving him his cue with just over a furlong left to go, Tiber Flow grabbed the lead inside the final sixteenth to beat home No Nay Never’s Zameka by a neck.

On the other side of the Irish sea, National Gallery was his sire’s second winner of the year at Dundalk. Racing over six furlongs, National Gallery was eager to run but kept in hand by Gary Halpin to track stablemate Hypernova until the final quarter. Much like Tiber Flow, National Gallery didn’t make the lead until the final sixteenth but race experience showed the professional colt pulling away to win by three quarters of a length.

Bred by Con Marnane, National Gallery is trained by Joseph O’Brien for F & N Partnership.

Only a few hours after National Gallery’s victory, $300,000 yearling purchase Philipsburg finished second on debut with the winner setting a new track record on the Gulfstream Park synthetic.

From his four runners so far in 2022 as of January 5, Caravaggio has seen three finish in the top two with the fourth finishing just a few lengths off the leader on his debut. Caravaggio stands his second season at Ashford for $35,000 in 2022.