Bayatorio has better wins in store on the strength of his gutsy victory in the Ultimate VIP Raceday Hcp (1400m) at Belmont on Saturday.

The consistent son of Mungrup Stud champion Oratorio (Aus) has won 3 races and been runner-up twice in 5 starts since resuming from a 20 week summer spell.

Bayatorio (3g Oratorio – Bantry Bay by Tale Of The Cat) won the Ultimate VIP Raceday Hcp (1400m) by a head after a stirring duel with Shilling.  “They had their chance to beat him but he dug deep,” trainer Brett Pope said.  “That’s the trait of a handy horse for the future.

“He kept going shin-sore early on and took time to toughen up and mature.  He’s come of age this year and has the scope to get up to a mile.”

Bayatorio will race next in the $100,000 Belmont Guineas (1600m) on June 21.  “He will be peaking for the Guineas in a fortnight,” Pope explained.  “All going well, he will then be spelled in readiness for the summer carnival.”

A $50,000 buy from Mungrup Stud at the 2012 Perth Magic Millions, he races for a syndicate managed by Ross Webb.  His dam Bantry Bay was a Group 3 winner of the 2007 SAJC Sires’ Produce Stakes and she foaled an Oratorio filly last August before testing positive to Dick Turpin in September.

Oratorio sired another double on Saturday with Ora Dare winning the first-leg at Belmont.  Mungrup Stud will stand him for a $16,500 (inc gst) service fee this year.