11 May. ITA. Premio Tudini . G3. Rome. 1.200 mts. Turf. 89.000 €
1.- GESTURE (S.Landi)
1.- TITUS SHADOW (D.Vargiu)
3.- BLACK MAMBAZO (M.Monteriso)


The three year-olds took on their older counterparts in the six furlong G.3 Premio Tudini in Rome this afternoon, a race which provided a spectacular finish.

Early season Guineas hope Black Mambazo (Statue Of Liberty) had given most of the running and, cantering up the centre of the track, had a clear view of the line 1½ furlongs out. Remarque (Marju) and Le Cadre Noir (Danetime) were battling among themselves behind the leader but the action was to come from the standside.

Titus Shadow (Titus Livius), under Dario Vargiu, came powering up the inside to head Black Mambazo but Gesture (Bahri) came up the rails with a late burst and these two fought out the finish with the judge unable to separate them in a photograph.

Black Mambazo finished third a length behind.

While both will be credited with a G.3 win, Bruno Grizzetti, trainer of Titus Shadow, rounded off a sensational afternoon, having won the G.3 Carlo d’Alessio with Gimmy before Cima De Triomphe landed the Derby.

This marked just a second black-type win for Titus Shadow from sixteen starts – his other win came over course and distance in October 2006.

Gesture however was winning his eighth race from 29 starts and his fourth in succession.