Zazou captures Premio Roma over defending champion Rio de la Plata

Zazou held off a late threat from Rio de la Plata to win Sunday’s Group 1 Premio Roma at Capannelle racecourse in Italy, denying the defending champion his fourth career Group 1 win.

Ridden by Mikael Barzalona, Zazou closed from fifth in the stretch. The colt took the lead in the final quarter-mile and was fully extended to beat Rio de la Plata, who was at the back of the field early. Voila Ici, a Group 1 winner in Italy in June, finished third in the field of nine.

Rio de la Plata, who was ridden by Frankie Dettori, placed in two Group 2 stakes at Longchamp earlier this year, including a second in the Group 1 Prix du Moulin de Longchamp in September.

Zazou, a 4-year-old German-bred colt by Shamardal, was a Group 3 winner in Germany in August for owner WH Sport International and trainer Waldemar Hickst. Zazou won Group 2 and Group 3 races in Germany in 2010.

The Premio Roma was run over about 1 1/4 miles and was worth approximately $406,000.