Trainer Steven Burridge rates Cristoforo as the most improved horse in the stable after his victory in the $75,000 Progress Stakes over 1600 metres on Sunday. Racing on the speed throughout, Cristoforo gave jockey Danny Beasley (pictured) the third leg of a winning treble when holding off stablemate Promise Me Gold (Taib Affandi) by a half length with Raphael (Barend Vorster) running on strongly from the tail for third, a further length away. Beasley had earlier been successful aboard the John Meagher-trained Lim’s Swing and Orient Supreme.

Cristoforo gives Danny Beasley the third leg of a winning treble on Sunday.
 

Cristoforo raced outside the leader Exchequer (Adam Fiezan) with Promise Me Gold and Schmeichel (Robbie Fradd) next in line. Beasley quickly took Cristoforo to the front on straightening and kicked clear with 200 metres to run before holding off the stablemate.

Burridge said Cristoforo was a very green horse when he began racing but has steadily been improving.

“He would have been one of the greenest horses racing,” Burridge said. “He was just so immature.

“But he’s been improving in the stable all the time. I would love to keep him going. If I was to turn him out I’m worried that he might hurt himself.

“He’s a bit of a scatterbrain, but with age and maturity he’s getting better.”

Burridge believes Cristoforo has the scope to go onto better races and said the 1600 metres of the 3YO Challenge in late July could suit the son of Yachtie.

“He’s improving all the time and the way he’s going, if he continues to improve, then the three-year-old challenge over a mile could suit him,” he said.

Cristoforo has now been successful at three of his nine outings. He’s a three-year-old New Zealand-bred son of Yachtie from the Pompeii Court mare Bride Of Pompeii and has secured a little over $140,000 for the Emcee Stable.