Puccini Cuts Back for Thorndon Mile Triumph

Appearing to have nowhere to run at the home turn, last year's New Zealand Derby (NZ-I) winner Puccini was eased off the rail and spurted through a narrow opening to win the Thorndon Mile (NZ-I) Jan. 24 at Trentham.

Ridden by Danielle Johnson, Puccini prevailed by a short head over Soriano, with Mighty Solomon two lengths back third in the field of 18.

Puccini had to withstand a claim of interference from the rider of Soriano that was quickly dismissed. Senior steward Ross Neal said although there was contact between the two runners, it occurred too close to the finish line to have influenced the outcome.

Genius was first out the gates, but was quickly overtaken by Diademe, who led Pure Champion and Miss Pelear in the strung-out field. Puccini, Benizi, and Mighty Solomon raced well back.

At the home turn where the field fanned out, Puccini looked to be trapped on the fence, but at the 150-meter mark, Johnson eased one off the rail. As the leaders drifted apart she speared Puccini through to secure the win. Apprentice Rory Hutchings urged a smart rally from Soriano, who ultimately could not overtake the winner in a close finish.

Pondarosa Miss, the favorite, raced at the back of the field from start to finish.

The final time was 1:34.11 for the 1,600-meter (about one-mile) turf contest.

Puccini is trained by Peter and Jacob McKay and has won twice at the group III level this season. But dismal efforts in a pair of group I races, most recently a seventh behind Soriano in the Zabeel Classic at 2,000 meters (about 1 1/4 miles) in December, forced his connections to cut him back in distance.

"He's a very good miler, but he will be better over more ground when he relaxes," Peter McKay said of Puccini, a half brother to New Zealand champion older male Sir Slick. "It was a top effort today and when he's ridden quietly, he's got an enormous finish."

New Zealand's champion 3-year-old male last season, Puccini has an 8-2-4 record from 24 career starts for owners-breeders Paul and Cushla Smithies, who race the son of Encosta de Lago under their Monovale Holdings banner. His dam is the stakes-winning Paris Opera mare Our Miss Opera.