Tag Archive for: El Caballo

The Astrologist’s team predicting big Haydock effort

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Australian challenger The Astrologist gets the opportunity to reassert his Royal Ascot claims in the Sky Bet John of Gaunt Stakes at Haydock on Saturday.

Trained in partnership by the father and son team of Leon and Troy Corstens, the six-year-old has been placed at Group One level on multiple occasions in his homeland and was beaten just a head by Danyah in the Al Quoz Sprint on Dubai World Cup night at Meydan in March.

That excellent effort encouraged connections to target the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes at the big meeting and he made his British debut in last month’s 1895 Duke of York Stakes under Ryan Moore.

While on the face of it The Astrologist’s performance in finishing seventh at York was underwhelming, hopes in the camp are high he can bounce back to something like his best on Merseyside.

“We’re very happy with the way he came through York. Obviously, as everyone knows, he needed the run and that is why he is having another run before Ascot,” said assistant trainer Dom Sutton.

“It is a strange one because we were hoping he’d have a little bit more residual fitness from Dubai, but it was a formula we’d never used before – he’d never had eight weeks between a run and obviously he had to deal with the flight and the travel.

“Back in Australia we use barrier trials as stepping stones to getting them to the races and obviously we couldn’t do that here, so we were kind of a little bit in the dark.

“He handled everything well leading up to York and we were hoping he could run a nice, bold race, but Ryan got off him and said in the last furlong he really needed it.”

With a step up from six to seven furlongs not expected to be an issue on a flat track and fast ground, Sutton is optimistic about his chances of victory, with Moore once again in the saddle.

He added: “He’s been pretty competitive over seven furlongs back home, the ground should suit and he’s ticked every box fitness-wise and gallops-wise in between runs, so hopefully it shouldn’t be a problem.

“Looking at the field you’d hope that he’ll be going pretty close. If circumstances mean he doesn’t win, as long as he’s hitting the line and running well we’ll be happy.”

A horse going the other way in distance is the Eve Johnson Houghton-trained Jumby, who was last seen finishing down the field over a mile in the Lockinge Stakes at Newbury.

The son of New Bay won the Group Two Hungerford Stakes over the intermediate trip last summer and his trainer is confident of a bold showing.

Jumby winning the Hungerford Stakes at Newbury
Jumby winning the Hungerford Stakes at Newbury (Steve Paston/PA)

She said: “He’s won a Group Two over seven furlongs and a mile just stretched him in the Lockinge.

“He likes fast ground and we’ve been very pleased with him since Newbury.”

El Caballo bids to get his season back on track for the in-form Karl Burke team.

The four-year-old won his first four starts of last year, including the Group Two Sandy Lane at Haydock, but disappointed in the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot and missed the rest of the campaign.

He trailed home last of 10 runners on his reappearance in the Cammidge Trophy on heavy ground at Doncaster and Burke is hoping conditions will be more favourable.

“We don’t want fast ground and I’m just hoping they put a decent amount of water on – they usually do at Haydock,” said the Spigot Lodge handler.

“We’ve got to get him started, he’s working really well and if we can’t run here on good, fast ground we’re going to struggle for the rest of the summer.

“Hopefully he can go and show himself to good effect. We’re stepping up to seven furlongs, he’s won over seven and I think that will help him.

“This looks a nice race for him to go for and he’s still got the ability, I have no doubt about that.”

Tim Easterby’s Boardman and the Charlie Fellowes-trained Gorak are both course and distance winners but face a step up in class, while Stan Moore’s The Wizard Of Eye, who also contested the Lockinge last month, completes the line-up.



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Burke optimistic as El Caballo makes Cammidge return

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Karl Burke is excited to see El Caballo make his first competitive appearance since Royal Ascot last summer in the Pertemps Network Cammidge Trophy at Doncaster on Saturday.

Narrowly beaten on his Town Moor debut two years ago, the Havana Gold colt went on to win his next six races, including his first four last season.

A Listed success in Lingfield’s Spring Cup was followed by a lucrative victory on All-Weather Championships Finals Day at Newcastle, while a successful switch to the turf in the Group Two Sandy Lane Stakes at Haydock ensured he a major contender for the Group One Commonwealth Cup.

El Caballo was well beaten on fast ground at the Royal meeting and missed the rest of the campaign, but he is reported to be in rude health ahead of his return in this weekend’s six-furlong Listed event.

“He’s wintered really well and has been working nicely. We’re hoping for a big run,” said Burke.

“He just got jarred at Ascot, so we had to back off him after his run in the Commonwealth. We’ve given him plenty of time to recover and hopefully he can make up for lost ground this spring.

“It’s going to be pretty heavy and pretty testing. I’m not saying he wants that, but I’d rather there was a bit of juice in the ground than not.

“He will improve for the run, but we’ve been very happy with the way he’s working.”

Burke has an interesting second string to his bow in the form of Fast Response, who rounded off 2022 with victory in the Wentworth Stakes over the course and distance in heavy ground.

Fast Response winning at Doncaster
Fast Response winning at Doncaster (Nigel French/PA)

The Fast Company filly will again have conditions to suit, but her trainer believes she may not be at concert pitch at this early stage of the season.

“She loves the heavy ground and obviously won a Listed race at the backend of last season,” the Spigot Lodge handler added.

“She was very progressive at the end of the year and heavy ground is the key to her, but her form improved as the season went on last year.

“I’m not sure she’s a spring filly and like a lot of fillies at this time of year, she looks like she wants a little bit of sunshine, but we’ll let her take her chance.”

The Charlie Fellowes-trained Vadream returns to turf action after three successive runs on the all-weather this year.

Vadream (left) in winning action at Ascot
Vadream (left) in winning action at Ascot (John Walton/PA)

“She’s a soft ground performer. I’m not convinced she’s really suited to those all-weather races round a bend, but we wanted to get her qualified for Good Friday and that is not out of the question – she could easily run at Doncaster then at Newcastle as well,” said the Newmarket handler.

“She’s got her conditions on Saturday and I thought she was quite overpriced considering a straight six on soft ground is what she loves.

“If she can produce the runs from the back end of last year, especially on Champions Day, I think she will go pretty close.”

Michael Dods saddles dual Stewards’ Cup winner Commanche Falls, and said: “He normally doesn’t race as early in the season, so while he’s well I wouldn’t say he’s come to himself yet.

“But there’s limited opportunities off his present rating and he seems well enough to have a run, so we’ll let him take his chance.”

James Horton is represented by Asjad, who was touched off by a stablemate of Commanche Falls in Dakota Gold on his latest appearance at Doncaster in October.

“He’s earned his place and his right to go and compete in those races. He’s rated 107, so he has to go and run in those races really,” Horton told Sky Sports Racing.

“We know he likes Doncaster, we know he likes soft ground and we know he likes running fresh.

“He seems fresh and well. He still possibly looks a little bit wintry in his coat, but he’s a five-year-old gelding living in North Yorkshire, so he’s probably not stupid!

“He’s coming nicely into this race and whatever he does on Saturday should bring him forward.”

Andrew Balding’s King’s Lynn, who carries the colours of the King and the Queen Consort, also features in a 12-strong field.



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