With the corona virus pandemic currently putting all racing in Germany and its neighbouring countries on total lock-down, Australia remains one of the few remaining nations who’s racing season continues to roll on benefiting Australian stable to grab Three-Year-Old deal.
It’s because of that reason that three-year-old colt Akatino is departing Europe for Down Under as his owners look to capitalise on prize money.
At his most recent start, the European cruised to a 24-length victory as odds-on favourite over 1700 metres at Dortmund’s all-weather track at the beginning of February.
Warwick Farm trainer Matthew Smith has acquired the European import in conjunction with OTI Racing.
In a video posted to Matthew Smith Racing on twitter, Smith spoke of his excitement over the three-year-old.
Introducing our latest European import from Germany. Get in quick, opportunities won’t last long! ?? For information email: [email protected] pic.twitter.com/8JLyno0Srq
— Matthew C. Smith Racing (@mcsmithracing) April 23, 2020
“The horse came to our attention at the end of his two-year-old season, but the trainer was a bit unsure about selling him,” he said.
“Then he came out and won by the big margin a few weeks before racing stopped in Germany so we went back and said ‘Would you consider an offer’, and because racing had stopped they were probably happy enough to sell.
“So, I’m pleased we’ve been able to negotiate a deal, I’m really looking forward to training him, he’s a lovely horse.”
Whilst Akatino has only had six starts for two wins, the Smith stable are bullish about his prospects in Australia.
“In his early two-year-old races he was running over short distances he shouldn’t have been running over but once he got over 1400 metres and he won his first race we recognised he was a nice horse,” Smith said.
“And then when he won first-up as a three-year-old (by 24 lengths) he was starting to run up to his pedigree.”
Akatino is currently spelling in the German city of Warendorf while awaiting transfer to Warwick Farm, located west of Sydney.
German government denies racing resumption read more.
