Prodigal son returns and reminds punters just how talented he is

Lupo Solitario and Billy Pinn return after winning the Manco Easter at Ellerslie on Saturday. Photo / Kenton Wright

Talented performer Lupo Solitario is making every post a winner since his return from a stint in Hong Kong – and he captured traditional Ellerslie feature the Manco Easter Handicap in a nail-biting finish on Saturday.

The five-year-old son of Satono Aladdin had seven starts in the competitive Hong Kong racing jurisdiction, but a race fall knocked his confidence and the decision was taken to send him back to his former mentor, Danica Guy.

Before his overseas venture, the gelding had won three of his six starts for Guy, including the Group 3 Bonecrusher Stakes (1400m) over Orchestral.

Showing good improvement in his first three starts back, which included a win over 1600m at Pukekohe leading into Saturday’s feature, Lupo Solitario was well respected in an even market, starting a $9.50 fixed-odds chance in a market headed up by race favourite December ($4.60)

Rider Wiremu Pinn had him beautifully settled in third all the way and made his move around the home bend, where he shot to the lead at the 250m.

Lupo Solitario looked the winner all over at that point but another emerging talent, Top Shelf, began to sprout wings and failed by just a head to haul in the eventual winner, who held her out to complete his fifth career victory.

Guy was all smiles as she greeted her charge in the Ellerslie birdcage.

“That was wonderful as I really didn’t think he could do it today as I thought the track might be too wet for him,” Guy said.

“I said to Bill [Pinn] we have to go to plan B and go forward, and he is such an honest, tough horse.

“I’m so grateful to get him back here as we all love him.

“He is just wonderful to have in the stable and I have to thank a lot of people for getting him back to where he is.

“I think that might be it for him this season and we can bring him back for Hawke’s Bay in the spring.”

Pinn, who was having his first ride on the horse, was nothing but complimentary about the effort and the manners of his mount.

“He was really good and quite a gentleman,” he said.

“He is a horse that usually likes to get back and run home but we wanted to be a bit more positive and it paid off.

“He is still very green and toyed with them a bit late, but I felt there was still a lot there if I needed it.

“This was the first time with the blinkers on and he was out of his comfort zone, so fair play to him and I think he can get over even more ground in the future.”

Now raced by Guy alongside her parents Gayle and Glen Guy, Lupo Solitario has earned over $302,000 in his career to date.

– LOVERACING.NZ News Desk