Maschino 3yo Charino scored a $41 upset in the Max Simmonds Stakes (1000m) at Ascot on Saturday but it wasn’t a fluke according to Pinjarra conditioner Brett Pope.

Charino was facing a classy field after a debut second to Desert Whisper (Rommel) on home turf in August but his connections rolled the dice and it paid off big-time ahead of The Pinnacles.  “He’s been working super at home and has shown more than any other 3yo I’ve trained,” Pope claimed.  “He’s a very nice horse and will get further being out of a mare by High Chaparral.”

Charino settled one-out, one-back behind Golden Vale (Churchill) and Sinful Living (Safeguard) and he kept lifting to hold out the favourite West Star (Playing God).  “What a professional.  He did everything right and was going pretty good on the corner,” jockey Shaun O’Donnell said.  “He dug deep after hitting the front and that was quite an effort at just his second start.”

A likely target is the LR Placid Ark Stakes (1200m) worth $500,000 at Ascot on November 16.  He has entered that market at $26 behind $3.50 favourite West Star.

Charino (3g Maschino – Chabelle by High Chaparral) is raced by Charlie Marino and his wife Nola who is the long-serving Federal MP for Forrest.  His 2yo half-brother is named Hurricane Ruler (Universal Ruler) and another half-brother by Splintex arrived on October 3.

Maschino flagbearer Marocchino has won 14 races to Group 2 level in the 2022 Ted van Heemst Stakes (2400m) at Ascot and the Alwyn Park sire’s other black-type winners include Fabergino, Cup Night, Another Chino and Snowchino.

Marocchino’s 2yo full-brother Barraquito is on the books with trainer Lou Luciani at Capel and he won a Lark Hill 2yo barrier trial last month for Trish Roberts and brothers Mark & Paul Luzi.  They have banked over $1.48 million with his older brother to date.

Maschino (Encosta de Lago) stands for an $8,800 (inc GST) fee at Alwyn Park.  Studmaster John Andrew can be contacted for bookings or further information on 0419 929 483