USA: Italian expat jockey Umberto Rispoli is thanking his lucky stars after a surprise career U-turn resulted in his first G1 triumph of 2022 on Monday at Santa Anita on Qatar Racing’s Ocean Road.
A short-lived flirtation with Kentucky came unstuck when the former dual Italian champion did not get a winner from 35 rides, so Rispoli last week returned to southern California, where he has made a splash since leaving Hong Kong.
Moreover, he wasted no time leaving his mark on Monday’s Memorial Day Bank Holiday card when he delivered former British-trained Ocean Road with a last-to-first charge to capture the $400,000 Gamely Stakes by a half-length from Going To Vegas – with Sheikh Fahad Al Thani in attendance at the track.
“It’s very special,” said Rispoli, who announced he was quitting California for New York before relocating in early April to Kentucky and then going back to where he started with an unexpected return to the Los Angeles region.
“I misjudged the time to leave California and go to Kentucky,” the 33-year-old went on, speaking to TVG.
“I had an experience but I can only blame myself. I don’t want to blame anybody. I have to thank all of the owners and trainers who gave me the opportunity out there.
“Unfortunately, it didn’t work out and I didn’t have a winner, which is very unusual for me. but to come back here and having a Grade 1 winner at this place which has always been home for me makes me very happy.”
Rispoli was delighted to land a G1 win in the Qatar colors. He explained: “Sheikh Fahad always was a big supporter of mine when I was in France and even overseas a couple of times, he came to run in Hong Kong with some horses and I was always pleased to wear his colors. Before he’s an owner, he’s a friend. He never complains, he’s a happy guy – I’m so happy to have a G1 winner for him.”
Now trained by Brendan Walsh, Ocean Road began her career in Britain with Hugo Palmer where she finished sixth in the 2021 Epsom Oaks and filled the same position in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf at Del Mar.
She stayed in the US to continue her career with Kentucky-based Walsh, winning at Keeneland in April. “I think there’s some more improvement in her and I can’t see why she wouldn’t keep going forward,” said Walsh.
“Umberto had her in a nice spot and he was able to creep in a little closer going to the turn. There were a couple nice fillies in this race and we knew we weren’t going to get by them too easy. She showed a nice kick and it’s always good to see that from a horse coming over here to run in this country.
“The guys that came out with her here to Santa Anita have been telling me all week how good she’s been doing, that she’s just blossomed out here. Today she had a bit of a swagger about her. I knew she was going to run a good race, whether it was going to be good enough or not remained to be seen.
“I’ve been lucky here at Santa Anita. I won a couple Breeders’ Cup Marathons back when I first started out [2014 and 2016], so this makes three stakes here.”
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