Breeding & Racing Magazine

Littorio Wins Makybe Diva Stakes

In Australia, former Lakewood Stud stallion Bellotto (Mr Prospector-Shelf Talker, by Tatan) added a group success when multiple Gr1-winning former star stayer & now 7YO gelding Littorio (Bellotto-Our Centasea, by Centaine) returned from a 71-weeks spell (sidelined with a suspensory injury) to score a half-length victory in the $300,000 weight-for-age Gr2 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) at Flemington in Melbourne. Littorio (ridden by Craig Williams for trainer Kigel Blackiston) defeated 6YO entire Glass Harmonium (Verglas-Spring Symphony, by Darshaan) & 5YO entire Midas Touch (Galileo-Approach, by Darshaan). Littorio (a $15,000 yearling consigned by Basinghall Farm at the 2006 Inglis Melbourne Premier Sale) took his record to 4 wins (also including 2010’s Gr1 The BMW over 2400m at Rosehill & 2008's Gr1 Patinack Farm Turnbull Stakes over 2000m at Flemington) & 7 placings (including 2008's Gr1 Underwood Stakes over 1800m at Caulfield, Gr1 Rosehill Guineas over 2000m at Rosehill, Gr2 Makybe Diva Stakes over 1600m at Flemington & Gr3 Randwick City Stakes over 2000m at Randwick, plus 2007's Gr1 Victoria Derby over 2500m at Flemington) from 25 starts for $2,508,475 earnings. (Click on the link for full race details from Group Race Results at AAP Racing.)