Littorio knows how to lift for the big occasion.  The Melbourne based stayer missed last year’s spring carnival but made up for lost time when he stormed home to win the G1 BMW on Saturday.

Littorio (5g Bellotto – Our Centasea by Centaine) is part-owned and trained by Nigel Blackiston and was a Sale maiden winner on debut in May 2007.  Since then he has raced another 22 times for just two victories – the G1 Turnbull Stakes at Flemington and the G1 BMW at Rosehill!

He is by veteran sire Bellotto who is rising 26.  After starting his stud career in the Hunter Valley, the Mr Prospector stallion spent many productive years at Lakewood Stud in South Australia.  He was pensioned in December after covering six mares last spring.

Bellotto has sired 6 Group 1 winners and, apart from Littorio and 1996 VRC Oaks winner My Brightia, the remainder – Bellzevir, Bullwinkle, Exalted Time and Zip Zip Aray – earned their elite level stripes at Morphettville.

Littorio’s dam Our Centasea is a winning sister to G3 Avondale Classic winner Centainette and a half-sister to dual G1 VRC Nissan Stakes winner Seascay (Maizcay).  The mare has a 2yo colt named Fullers Road (Bachelor Duke) and followed up with a filly and a colt by Captain Rio.

Littorio has now banked over $2.32 million for connections which is a Lotto-like mark-up on the $15,000 he cost at the 2006 Inglis Melbourne Premier yearling sale.  He will progress to the G1 Sydney Cup on April 24 when there is another $425,000 at the judge.