This Saturday’s G1 Toorak Hcp will bring back fond memories for Matamata trainer Peter McKay.  

McKay prepared 2008 Toorak winner Alamosa (NZ) before handing him over to Mick Price and now he has another top class colt heading in the same direction.

Antonio Lombardo (NZ) emulated Alamosa by taking out the G2 Hawke’s Bay Guineas at Hastings last weekend and McKay reckons his latest star can go one better in the G2 Wellington Guineas at Trentham on October 22.

Alamosa (O’Reilly) was beaten a nose by Rios in his edition of the Wellington Guineas.

Antonio Lombardo (3c Pins – Petit Verdot by Centaine) is part-owned by McKay and his wife Kim along with long time stable client Trevor Luke.  The Hawke’s Bay result followed a brilliant five-length first-up victory in the Listed Northland Breeders Stakes.

“He’s kicking away now without letting them come up to him,” McKay said.  “As a two-year-old, he used to wait for them because he does love a fight.”

Antonio Lombardo cost $120,000 from the Trelawney Stud draft at the 2010 NZB Premier yearling sale at Karaka.  He is featured in the pedigree of Lot 291 in the NZB Ready To Run Sale in November.