A change in riding tactics appeared to be the key for Gestut Brummerhof’s Messi, who benefitted from sitting just off the early pace before charging to a two-length victory in the G2 Sky Classic Stakes at Woodbine.
The Sky Classic was the second Graded Stakes win for the six-year-old son of New Approach, who has now won four of his eight starts since arriving in North America. Last October, Messi rallied from well off the pace to win the G3 Knickerbocker at Belmont Park.
Messi was bred in Germany by his owner and is out of the mare Messina, a winning daughter of Dashing Blade. Messina has also produced G2 winner McCartney, and hails from the female family of champions Majoritat and Moonlady.
Messi becomes New Approach’s ninth individual Stakes winner of 2016. His other notable performers include Elliptique, winner of the G1 Grosser Dallmayr Preis and Beautiful Romance, winner of the G2 Middleton Stakes.
