Stars Aligned For Statuario

Under radar until Listed win, D'argento grey is deserved top pick in S.A. Derby

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ADELAIDE - A dominant last-start Listed Stakes victory over 2,400m at Caulfield has given wife-and-husband training partners, Emma-Lee and David Browne, confidence that Statuario deserves to be favourite in the A$1 million (S$836,000) Group 1 South Australian Derby (2,500m) at Morphettville on May 3.

With three wins, two seconds and one third from his 10 starts, the D'argento three-year-old won two consecutive races with Damian Lane up at Cranbourne in September 2024.

But he scored the most significant victory last start with a 2¼-length triumph on April 5.

He went forward early and was sitting fourth at the 800m and 400m marks before cruising to the lead to score easily.

Before that, he was third in the Group 2 Alister Clark Stakes over 2,040m at Moonee Valley, beaten about two lengths.

Emma-Lee Browne said they could not be happier with the draw in barrier 3 and added that their grey gelding was in tip-top order.

She was also excited about crossing the border from their base in Melbourne to tackle one of Adelaide's time-honoured features.