Track specialist back to winning ways

Dimaggio’s liking for the Hastings track was again emphasised on Sunday afternoon when he made another successful trip south.

Trained at Cambridge by Tony Pike, the four-year-old accounted for his Rating 65 rivals over 1600 metre for the third win of his career with all of them posted on the Hawke’s Bay course.

The son of Almanzor had failed to flatter in two previous appearances this preparation after showing encouraging form in good company last season with fifth placings in both the G2 Avondale Guineas and Listed Gingernuts Salver.

Dimaggio bounced back to his best today and produced a commanding frontrunning performance to win under apprentice Lily Sutherland.

He was purchased out of Curraghmore’s draft at Karaka for $95,000 by Pike for an ownership group that includes Waikato Stud.

The gelding is a son of the Pins mare Pinstripe, who is a half-sister to the G2 Shannon Stakes and G3 Lord Mayor’s Cup winner Firebolt and the second dam Kailey won an edition of the G1 Railway Handicap.