Oakland Park homebred Massimo looked a class-act winning on debut at Belmont in August and he has delivered on that potential in the LR Placid Ark Stakes (1200m).

Massimo completed an Ascot hat-trick on Saturday and also gave Lonhro sire Sessions his first stakes winner at stud.  Trainer Adam Durrant said his next target will be the LR Sir Ernest Lee-Steere Classic (1400m) on December 7.  “He did a good job to pick up when headed in the straight.  Willie (Pike) said he’s still learning the trade and was going through the gears when Laverrod came up on his outside in the straight.

“The runner-up is pretty smart but he’s strong and kept fighting through the line.  The 1400m in two weeks is going to be right up his alley.”

Massimo (3g Sessions – Highest by Marscay) earned $105,000 in prizemoney including Westspeed bonuses for Oakland Park’s Neville & Susan Duncan and part-owner Renee Durrant.

Oakland Park bred him from Sydney winner Highest who died after foaling a Safeguard filly last year.  She was a $27,000 buy for the Duncans at the 2013 Inglis Easter Broodmare Sale.

Sessions is embedded in the Australian Top 10 second-season table with $550,000 in earnings alongside Laverrod’s sire Toronado (Ire).  He’s the only son of Lonhro at stud in Western Australia and stands for a $5,500 service fee at Oakland Park.

MASSIMO