Basaltico To Have First Start For Walter
- Tuesday, 02 March 2010 09:17
Imported stayer Basaltico will have his first start for new trainer Guy Walter in Sunday's Listed National Sprint at Canberra.
Basaltico was brought to Australia by former trainer Luca Cumani for last year's Melbourne Cup in which he finished 18th after running seventh in the Geelong Cup at his only other Australian start.
Walter got the horse to train earlier this year when he was phoned by one of the stayer's managing owners, Terry Henderson from Oti Racing, asking if he was interested in training the horse.
The six-year-old gelding has won six of his 23 starts with three wins over 1800m, one over 2200m and two over 2400m in Europe.
"He's a nice little horse, a proven stayer," Walter said.
"Obviously the 1400 metres (of the National Sprint) is well short of his best but he's probably looking at the Easter carnival (in Sydney) and also Brisbane."
Walter also has the unbeaten three-year-old Al Dhafra set for the Canberra Guineas (1400m), and possibly Tie The Knot's half-brother Hood if he gains a start.
The $250,000 Black Opal Stakes for two-year-olds received 23 nominations.
