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Raffaello to boost Brisbane Cup chances

Wednesday 2 June 2010
By Mark Ryan

Trainer Jim Marconi thinks Raffaello will run well under the conditions of Saturday's Eagle Farm Cup, but believes the in-form stayer will be even better placed in Saturday week's Brisbane Cup.

The rising six-year-old son of Encosta De Lago is not a proven weight-for-age performer and for that reason the Group Two Brisbane Cup (2400m), which is his main goal in Queensland, is his best chance to boost his stallion potential.

"He has to carry the same weight (59kg) as Triple Honour who is a good horse," Marconi said.

"But that horse would be giving my horse a fair bit of weight under handicap conditions.

"My horse has adapted really well to the right-handed way and I'm very happy with him.

"He's had a couple of gallops in the week he's been here and had a strong gallop on Tuesday at Eagle Farm.

"I didn't want to have to back him up in the Brisbane Cup in a week but I've got no real choice."

Raffaello will have a break after the Brisbane Cup to be prepared for a spring campaign.

Marconi, who bred Raffaello out of his Group-winning Rancho Ruler mare Sweet Delight, gave training away due to serious health problems and sold nearly all of his racing and breeding stock.

The 77-year-old has battled prostate and bone cancer as well as having heart surgery and his only remaining horse, Raffaello, has been his best tonic.

While he was sick, Mark Kavanagh prepared Raffaello to four wins as well as a third in the 2009 Group One Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) and a second in the Group Three Easter Cup (2000m).

Marconi said his son Carlo did all the work with the horse these days and Raffaello rewarded them with a last-start win over 2000m at Caulfield on May 22 when he defeated Reprisal by 1-3/4 lengths to clinch a Brisbane trip.

"Carlo does everything and I am just the director," Marconi said.

Top heavyweight jockey Steven Arnold will ride Raffaello for the first time, taking over the reins from apprentice Ben Knobel who brought the horse from last to score easily at Caulfield.

Marconi, who has owned and trained several top horses over the years, had won four races with Raffaello earlier in his career, his previous city winner being with him at Flemington in September 2008.

The trainer said a win in either the Eagle Farm Cup or the Brisbane Cup would help set the horse up for a career at stud.

He is a half-brother to stallion Tycoon Ruler, who stands in Queensland, and a full-brother to Lago Delight who is based in Victoria.

Marconi prepared Group One winners Rancho Ruler, King Marauding and Pride Of Rancho.