by Steve Bailey

Godolphin Racing’s Schiaparelli and jockey Frankie Dettori both picked up their first Group 1 victory of the season as the duo captured the $442,352 Gran Premio Jockey Club-Coppa d’Oro (Ity-G1) on Sunday at San Siro Racecourse in Milan, Italy.

The Gran Premio Jockey Club was the third win from five starts this year for the six-year-old Monsun horse following victories in the Coutts Goodwood Cup (Eng-G2) on July 30 at Goodwood and the Darley Prix Kergorlay (Fr-G2) on August 23 at Deauville. Schiaparelli also won the 2,400-meter (11.93-furlong) Gran Premio Jockey Club in 2007 for previous owner Stall Blankenese and trainer Peter Schiergen.

For Dettori, the win continued a streak of at least one Group 1 victory every year since 1990.

"I was running out of bullets …,” Dettori told Racing Post. “It's great to win this race as it is like the equivalent of the King George, and now I've won it five times."

Voila Ici was not about to let Schiaparelli dictate the pace and pressed him on the lead to the quarter pole. He could not keep up in the stretch, however, and Schiaparelli drew away to the easy victory.

“He enjoyed his run and Frankie rode him very well,” said Godolphin trainer Saeed bin Suroor, who added that Schiaparelli could run next in the Prix Royal-Oak (French St. Leger) (Fr-G1) on October 25 at Longchamp. 
 
Sant’antonio made a determined late run to take second, a half-length in front of Voila Ici.

Overall, Schiaparelli has won 12 of 20 starts during four racing seasons. A full brother to 2000 BMW 131 Deutches Derby (Ger-G1) (German Derby) Samum and ’02 Osterman Preis der Diana – Deutches Stuten (Ger-G1) (German Oaks) winner Salve Regina, Schiaparelli is out of the Old Vic mare Sacarina.

Steve Bailey is deputy news editor of Thoroughbred Times