CORREGGIO. 26 February 2010. Bertolini-Arian Da. Owner-Forty Forty Twenty.
Correggio is by Bertolini out of a Superlative mare, making him a full brother to the Barry Hills trained Prime Defender, who won the Group 2 Duke Of York Stakes at York in 2010, but where as Prime Defender was a sprinter, it was middle distances that brought out the best in Correggio.
Correggio started out life running three times for the Richard Hannon yard as a two year old, placing once, and earning a BHA mark of 80. He was bought by Micky at the Newmarket horses in training sale in the Autumn of 2012, gelded, and given a break to mature over the Winter.
His stable debut saw him finish a respectable fifth at Ripon, before winning at the second time of asking at Catterick, unfortunately the stewards saw fit to take the race off him for interference, and he remained a maiden. He finally got off the mark at Pontefract in August 2013, over 10 furlongs, on good to firm ground, winning a three runner handicap at odds of 12/1.
Pontefract would prove to be his favourite venue throughout his career, and it was on his return in April 2014, as a five year old, that he won first time up at that track, this time staying on over the mile.His next run was on heavy ground at Beverley two weeks later, where he trailed in last of the eight, hating the underfoot conditions.He ran consistently for the rest of the flat season, just finding marks in the high 70's a bit too much. In October 2014, he made his debut over hurdles at Sedgefield, trailing in a very sorry eighth of the 10 runners, he would have one more attempt over jumps two years later, getting no further than the third flight at Wetherby when unseating, he definitely wasn't one for the winter game.
He was back after his break finishing third at Pontefract in April 2015, before achieving his career highlight, on a sunny afternoon at York in June, winning the Macmillan Stakes, under P.J McDonald off a mark of 67, at odds of 8/1.It was back to Pontefract in July, and now at the peak of his powers, he was ridden out for a convincing six lengths success.From his new mark of 82 the handicapper was back in charge, and it would be eight runs, and very nearly a full year until he was just touched off at Thirsk, by a neck, from a reduced mark of 70. He ran well again, finishing third at Beverley in August, but he could not produce the heady days of York again.
In the summer of 2017 he finished runner up twice at Thirsk,and Pontefract, with his mark now down to 58. He raced on through 2018, with his best run coming under Becky Smith at Beverley in the ladies race, and he raced four more times in 2019, his final race coming at Pontefract in July. After showing no spark, it was agreed that retirement was the best policy. Correggio gave his owners some great memories, especially that big day at York. He now lives with Simon, and Julia Cobb, two of those owners, who were 40%, of the Forty Forty Twenty partnership.