Natuzzi Returns to Winning Ways

Evergreen sprinter Natuzzi (NZ) (Coats Choice) returned to his winning ways with a brilliant victory in the $50,000 Listed J Swap Contractors Handicap Sprint over 1400 metres at Te Rapa on Saturday.

Trained by Peter & Dawn Williams and Paul Richards, Natuzzi was having his second start since March after being off the track due to a serious illness.

Natuzzi victorious in the Listed J Swap Contractors Sprint. Photo courtesy of Trish Dunell.

“He underwent major colon surgery in April, that really knocked him about,” commented Richards. “He was very light and went to Jamieson Park for 3 months and came back in superb order.”

Regular rider Chris Johnson travelled to Te Rapa to continue his association with Natuzzi, jumping from barrier 8 in the 10-horse field.

Natuzzi settled at the rear of the field and raced keenly in the early stages of the race so Johnson allowed him to steadily improve on the outside of the field. The son of Coats Choice burst to front at the 100m  and withheld the late run from race-favourite Tavy (NZ) (Tavistock) by half-a-length, with Mosse (NZ) (O’Reilly finishing in third.

Richards confirmed the gelding will now head to the Group 1 Sistema Railway Stakes at Ellerslie on New Year’s Day without another run, unlike last year when he won the Listed Newmarket Handicap on Boxing Day.

Natuzzi also holds a nomination for the Group 1 Telegraph Handicap, a race he finished runner-up to Irish Fling in 2014.

Saturday’s win was Natuzzi’s tenth victory from 33 starts and took his earnings to $442,792 for owners J W & Mrs S D Duell. Ross Becket purchased Natuzzi for just $9,000 at the 2010 NZB South Island Sale from Sue and Stu McGiffert’s Three Valleys.

Bred by the McGifferts, Natuzzi is out of winning mare Monsanto (Kilimanjaro), a half-sister to Group 1 winner Chime Zam (Chimes Sqaure).