Fighter SALITOS with formidable third place in 143rd Derby Italiano

Victory was already in the air when SALITOS stormed up the long Milanese home straight in the 143rd edition of the €650,000 Derby Italiano. The In Swoop colt, racing for Liberty Racing 2024 Gold, had come breezed around the final turn after a perfect trip along the inside rails. Bauyrzhan Murzabayev still had his hands full whilst his rivals were already reaching for their whips, and Peter Schiergen’s protege responded magnificently when his jockey began to work. SALITOS fought tenaciously, had already drawn clearn by a length and then... the straight proved just a little too long. He was caught in the final two strides and, after 2,200 metres, had to settle for third place by a nose following a photo finish, only a neck behind the winner.

And yet everything had gone perfectly that day. It had rained after a heatwave, the ground was rather soft, just as he likes it, but an Italian Derby victory was not to be. The shareholders who had travelled with him celebrated their star nonetheless, as he had more than proven that the high regard in which he had been held internally from an early stage was justified.