SIX-year-old Ilsanpietro (Raymond Danielson) chalked up the eighth win of his career in a Pinnacle Stakes over 1800m at Turffontein’s second night meeting of the season, Tuesday.

With most betting support coming for his stablemate Ilha Bela, Ilsanpietro was easy to back at 7-1 in a small field, but he made his class count, producing his trademark hard gallop to hold off threats from Wagner and Glorious Jet. Ilha Bela ran out of steam over the last 200m, finishing fifth.

Danielson said: “They wanted me to set the pace but Ilsanpietro just wasn’t quick enough and we got settled handy. When I asked him he kept giving me more. He won’t stop here.”

Mike de Kock commented: “One tends to think of Ilsanpietro as a horse who has to win the stayers races like the Gold Cup, but he’s versatile, he’s sharp over shorter distances. Last year he finished second in the Victory Moon Handicap and then second to St John Gray’s good filly (Dancewiththedevil) in the Summer Cup. We’ll follow the same route this year, going for the Victory Moon into the Summer Cup.”

He said about Ilha Bela: “She’s had a long rest, she’s only been back in training for six or seven weeks so this was a good comeback run. She made a winning move and got tired late, she will improve many lengths. I still think she will be a big runner in the Summer Cup.”

Ilsanpietro is by Mark of Esteem and races for Paulo Ceasar’s Fazenda Mondesir International.

Headline photo by JC Photos: Ilsanpietro stays on resolutely to win from Wagner and Glorious Jet.