G3 victory for son of Shirocco

Shirocco's son Ibicenco moved one step closer to a run in next month’s $6million G1 Emirates Melbourne Cup with a determined victory in the G3 Geelong Cup over 12f on 23 October.

A winner of the Listed Heatherlie Handicap on his seasonal debut, Ibicenco had no luck in his following two starts in the G3 Naturalism Stakes and G1 Metropolitan Handicap. However, jockey Brad Rawiller kept Ibicenco out of trouble in the Geelong Cup and the entire prevailed in a tight finish.

Already a two-time winner at Listed level, a re-handicap following the win should ensure Ibicenco takes his place in the Melbourne Cup alongside fellow Shirocco stayer Brown Panther, a winner of the G2 Goodwood Cup in August.

Bred by Gestut Schlenderhan, Ibicenco is a half-brother to Irian, a Champion Miler in Germany who won the G1 Mehl Mulhens Rennen, as well as the G2 Jockey Club Cup in Hong Kong.

Shirocco has now sired five Group winners and a further three Stakes winners in 2013.