Dylan Mouth turned back a strong bid from stablemate Circus Couture and held on for a narrow victory in the Premio Roma GBI Racing (Ity-I) Nov. 8 at Capannelle Racecourse in Rome.
An Italy-based son of Dylan Thomas, Dylan Mouth was the clear leader after the first 200 meters and prevailed by a short head after being pressed through the final sixteenth. Beautiful Heroine was a well-beaten third, 4 1/2 lengths behind Circus Couture. Favorite Prince Gibraltar, second in the Grosser Preis von Bayern (Ger-I) last week, challenged for second over a furlong out but lacked a closing kick and finished fifth in the 13-horse field.
Ridden by Fabio Branca for trainer Stefano Botti, Dylan Mouth finished the 2,000-meter (about 1 1/4-miles) turf contest in 2:08.69 for his second group I win of the year and third overall at the highest level.
Raced by Felice Villa, Dylan Mouth won the Gran Premio di Milano (Ity-I) in June at San Siro and last year captured the Gran Premio del Jockey Club (Ity-I) after taking the Derby Italiano (Ity-II) and Premio Federico Tesio (Ity-II), the latter for the second time this September. In trying for a repeat win in the Gran Premio del Jockey Club Oct. 18 last time out, he was the runner-up but bounced back Sunday with a determined win.
Bred in Ireland by Azienda Agricola Mariano, Dylan Mouth is out of Italian group III winner Cottonmouth, by Noverre.