Christmas Cheer Triumph Sealed With A Kiss

TRAINING legend Tony Zammit has a word of warning for rivals of his star stayer Valpolicella the winner on Saturday night at Wentworth Park of the Group 3 Christmas Cheer (720m).

The daughter of Shima Shine-Saldana led throughout to win at Wenty by four and a quarter lengths in 41.80 beating Ritza Piper and Punter's Bandit.

It was her 17th win in 34 starts and took her earnings to $163,000.

“This bitch might have had 34 starts but she still has improvement in her to come,” said Zammit.

“All the tripping about to big races does a lot for the experience of stayers and that is what is happening with Valpolicella.”

"We've got plenty of scope there for later on"

We caught up with trainer Tony Zammit after Valpolicella won the @Ladbrokescomau Christmas Cheer – and there is still plenty to come from the Queensland stayer!#thedogs @wentyparkgreys @raceqld pic.twitter.com/qqBQpwYVLa

— The Dogs (@Thedogs_com_au) December 16, 2023

Zammit admitted he was “lucky” there was no race for Valpolicella at Albion Park last Thursday night.

“I nominated her on the Monday morning for a top grade stayers race last Thursday night but there was no race on for her,” said Tony.

“Then her owner Sandro (Bechini) rang me to say the Christmas Cheer was on at Wenty and the nominations did not close until the Tuesday morning. I tossed in a nomination and here we are.”

Sandro is living his dream having bred the bitch and kept her and one other from the litter of 11.

“I've just mated the mother back to Shima Shine,” said Sandro.

“I can tell you, I gave her a pretty big cheer from the catching pen on Saturday night.”

Zammit has a bonus of feature staying races coming up in the next few months for Valpolicella.

“There is the Gold Cup at Albion Park, the Summer Cup and then the Association Cup at Wenty, The 715 at The Gardens all in the next few months,” he said.

“I love training stayers.”

He said Valpolicella would be nominated back to Albion Park this coming Thursday night.