Biondetti Speeds to Victory in Gran Criterium

Biondetti remained undefeated when he held off the late charge of Singapore Lilly to capture the Gran Criterium (It-I) by a half-length at San Siro Oct. 9.  

With the victory, Biondetti became the first group/grade I winner for his sire Bernardini  , whose first crop of foals are 2-year-olds this year.

Ridden confidently by jockey Ahmed Ajtebi, Biondetti was settled into fifth as Billy Budd, under jockey Fabio Branca, led the field through the early stages of the race. As the field approached the final furlong, Biondetti charged from mid-pack to take command, and had plenty left in the tank to hold off the late rush of Singapore Lilly for the victory.

Billy Budd held on for third, finishing 2 3/4 lengths behind Singapore Lilly. Final time for the eight furlongs was 1:41.50 over the soft turf course.

Biondetti has captured all three of his starts for trainer Mahmood Al Zarooni and owner Godolphin. The bay colt broke his maiden at Newmarket in August, and entered the Gran Criterium off of a victory in a seven-furlong conditions race on the all-weather course at Kempton Park Sept. 4.

Biondetti is out of the stakes-winning Lyphard mare, Lyphard’s Delta, and is a three-quarter brother to graded stakes winners Indy Five Hundred and Delta Princess.  Bred in Kentucky by Palides Investments NV, Inc., Biondetti was consigned by Lane’s End Farm, agent, to the 2009 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky July yearling sale, where he was purchased by John Ferguson for $350,000.