Gio Ponti to skip Woodbine Mile and go for the Grade 1 Shadwell Turf Mile at Keeneland
Trainer Christophe Clement is sticking to the original schedule for his six-year-old horse, Gio Ponti. He revealed on 12 September, 2011, that Gio Ponti will be pointed to the Grade 1 Shadwell Turf Mile on 8 October, 2011, at Keeneland.
The trainer further said that with Gio Ponti’s next start sealed, he will have to pass on the Woodbine Mile at Woodbine, and after the Shadwell Turf Mile, the experienced horse will take part in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Mile on 5 November, 2011, at Churchill
Downs.
Gio Ponti is winless this season, with four starts, and the closest he has come to win a race was a second place finish, twice, in his last two races.
Both times his tormentor was the Irish invader, Cape Blanco, who is trained by the Irish champion trainer, Aidan O’Brien.
The rivalry kicked off in the Grade 1 Man O’ War Stakes at Belmont Park on 9 July, 2011, as Cape Blanco made his debut on American Soil.
The favoured Gio Ponti under his usual jockey, Ramon Dominguez, on the Belmont Park’s turf, ran over a distance of 1 3/8 miles.
Cape Blanco ripped apart the line-up and went on to win his first race on an American circuit, covering the distance in 2 minutes and 14.06 seconds.
After his success in the Man O’ War Stakes, Aidan O’Brien fancied a run in the Grade 1 $1 million Arlington Million at Arlington Park, a second match off between Gio Ponti at his home turf.
Gio Ponti was once again second best, as Cape Blanco was 2 of 2 in as many starts in North America. Gio Ponti, playing second fiddle, was denied yet again of his first win of the season, for which both, the trainer and the runner, were looking for desperately.
In the Shadwell Turf Mile, apart from Gio Ponti three other runners have shown interest, and this time Gio Ponti will have to contend with Courageous Cat, who might opt for a run in the Woodbine Mile and Wise Dan.
Last year, Gio Ponti won the Grade 1 Shadwell Turf Mile, and he will be favoured to win it again since he hasn’t been all that bad against Cape Blanco in his last two starts, where he rolled in second on each occasion.
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