Eurocanto takes out the 2025 Maribyrnong Trial Stakes

Early-season two-year-olds aren’t usually Mark Zahra’s go-to rides—unless the request comes from Lindsay Park.

Answering the call from Ben, Will and J D Hayes, Zahra piloted Eurocanto to a debut stakes win in Victoria’s opening juvenile contest, the Listed Maribyrnong Trial (1000m) at Flemington.

Eurocanto ($8) was ridden quietly, swung wide late and charged home to nab Streisand ($5.50) by a half-head, with One Day At A Time ($4) finishing a further neck away.

“To be honest, I usually don’t like riding two-year-olds too early but when the Hayes’ call, I’ll pick up the phone,” Zahra said.

“They’ll usually identify one that they’re happy with and they want me to trial.

“It is a good process and if I like it them, I’ll stick with it.

“That is what happened with this guy. I trialled him twice and liked him two times and he’s got the job done today.”

There were a few anxious moments: the colt was fractious in the barriers and Zahra was held up on the fence at the 400m before finding clear running.

“It is a tough test first-up up the straight over 1000 (metres) and I like to be the last one on the scene,” Zahra said.

“He did that well. He was able to travel up behind them and showed good grit late to win.”

A $250,000 purchase at the Gold Coast, Eurocanto was earmarked by the Lindsay Park buying team led by Dean Hawthorne and quickly stamped himself as a promising type.

“We really liked him, and we’ve had good success with the stallion,” Hayes said.

“He’s an athletic style of horse with plenty of improvement to come and it was good to be able to kick off his career in that fashion.”

By Per Incanto—sire of Little Brose, the 2023 Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes winner (run at Sandown)—Eurocanto owns a pedigree that suggests more to come.

“It was a professional performance,” Hayes said.

“We’ll see how he pulls up and it would be tempting, all systems go, to go to Cup week, but first and foremost we’ll see how he is first thing in the morning.”

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