Scallopini turned back the clock two years to claim his second Listed Sunshine Coast Cup (1400m) at Caloundra on Saturday.
Ridden by Boris Thornton for trainers Steven O’Dea and Matthew Hoysted, Scallopini enjoyed a sweet run in third.
When Thornton found the right lane down the centre of the track, Scallopini hit the line strongly to defeat race favourite Oscar Zulu by a head.
Carrying the colours of Proven Thoroughbreds, Scallopini ended a long run of outs with this narrow victory.
“It’s great to see him back in the winner’s stall. It has been a little while for him,” O’Dea said.
“He won this race two years ago, then won the Listed Hinkler Stakes at his next start, but has been winless since.
“A lot of times he has drawn bad gates and has not had things go right for him.
“Even though he drew a bad gate today it was a race without a lot of speed in it. I said to Boris to come out neutral on him and see how it plays out early. It was good to see him tough it out.”
The 7yo son of Snitzel advances his record to ten wins, six seconds and five thirds from 32 starts with earnings of $600,625.
Purchased by Proven Thoroughbreds/Steve O’Dea for $200,000 from the Yarraman draft at the 2016 Gold Coast Yearling Sale (pictured above), Scallopini was bred by Steve Gillard.
Scallopini is the first foal of an unraced More Than Ready (USA) mare Rose Of Mulan, a daughter of crack racemare Lady Mulan, winner of the Group II ATC Light Fingers Stakes and placed in the Group I QTC TJ Smith Classic, Group I Coolmore Classic and Group I Flight Stakes.
Rose Of Mulan has a 2yo filly foal (pictured below) by Extreme Choice named Decisively who was purchased by O’Brien Thoroughbreds / Yes Bloodstock for $420,000 from the Yarraman Park draft at last year’s Inglis Premier Yearling Sale.
After missing in 2019 and slipping in 2020, Rose Of Mulan was covered by Hellbent last spring.
