Southern stayer Capo Dell Impero retained his title as the king of Cromwell on Sunday, going back-to-back in the feature event of the carnival, the Happy Hire Cromwell Cup (2030m).

The son of Ghibellines was successful in the race 12 months ago defeating Jon Ol Rocco, and coming into this year’s edition, the pair were both tasked with the 60kg topweight, an impost decreased on Capo Dell Impero by Ruvanesh Muniandy’s three-kilogram claim.

Capo Dell Impero drew barrier three and swiftly got in the trail of his stablemate Burgie and Jon Ol Rocco, settling three-back on the fence. Patsys Lass was positive from the outset and dictated the early pace, stacking up the field before they fanned wide turning for home. Muniandy had been biding his time on Capo Dell Impero and had plenty to do at the 300m, but the gelding was all class, powering between Jon Ol Rocco and Noble Knight to take the Cup by three-quarters of a length.

In his second season of race-riding, Wingatui-based Muniandy was delighted to pick up a prized local race in front of a big crowd.

“It’s very exciting, I’m really happy with that,” he said.

“It was my first time riding at Cromwell last year, and this is my first win here.

“I wanted to follow the stablemate (Burgie) into the straight, then I went to Plan B. When I asked him to run, he just keeps sprinting, he’ll never stop and never give up.”

The Good 3 surface had been well-suited to the seven-year-old, who is trained by Brian and Shane Anderton.

“That was a great run, he’s always carrying a lot of weight and at the corner today I thought we may have been a bit far back, so it was a pretty good effort to get there,” Shane Anderton said.

“He’s always got a good finish on him, the three kilos today made a big difference and was probably the winning of the race.

“In the end, he got a nice run and he hit the line really strong. It was great.”

The victory was Capo Dell Impero’s eighth from 32 starts, taking his career earnings over $230,000. His rating prior to the Cromwell meeting was 92, meaning races such as the Gr.3 White Robe Lodge WFA (1600m) are on the radar of the Andertons going forward.  

“He’s hard placed in the handicaps so we’re going to have to pick some nice races,” Shane Anderton said.

“A race like the White Robe later on possibly, and some other nice races in the autumn, we’ll just pick our way through.”

Out of a two-win Gallant Guru mare Gallant Babe, Capo Dell Impero is an older full-brother to stablemate Mayor Of Norwood, who has won four races and over $130,000. The family also includes Patrick Erin, winner of the Gr.1 Metropolitan Handicap (2400m) and Gallant Boy, a winner of 15 races including the Gr.3 White Robe Lodge WFA (1600m).