| Outstanding staying prospect El Castello extended his unbeaten three-year-old run to four races when he proved too tough for his rivals in today’s Group One $2 million Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) at Randwick. |
| One of the top young prospects in the country, El Castello was tested against Sydney’s best juveniles last season and has really come into his own this season. He broke his maiden in a Super Maiden at Warwick Farm in early September before notching a Midway win over a mile next time out. The rising talent then stamped his status as a rising star with a strong win last start in the Group Two Gloaming Stakes at Rosehill. El Castello was the third winner in the Spring Champion Stakes for trainer Anthony Cummings, who wiped away a few tears after the race. “He’s a nice horse. We do it because we love the horses. Nice to see him do well.” “He’s just a very good horse. Good ride, sensible. The race got a bit messy at one point, the horse coped with it really well and Josh coped with it really well.” “He didn’t get flustered. He produced him at the right time and, as is his habit, he’s very strong through the line.” Cummings has always held the son of Castelvecchio in the highest of regard. He purchased the latest stable star for $220,000 at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale from the draft of New Zealand’s Cambridge Stud. “The preparation went perfectly, everything worked out. He turned up the best horse today and I still think he improves again.” “It’s a dumb thing to say, I know, but if I had to pick fault today he’s maybe half a run short but today’s race into next week, he’ll be fine. We’re in good shape. ” Cummings said the Victoria Derby was well and truly on the radar for his star three-year-old. “Standing here today, the decision is yes,” he noted. “But we’ve got to get him home and make sure that he’s OK and tick a fair few boxes before we do that.” “But that was the plan. The preparation was set up so that today’s race would give him the step to go to the Derby. Looks like that will happen.” The win was the 11th at the elite level for rider Josh Parr who handled the untapped staying prospect with perfection. “Wow,” Parr exclaimed after the win. “That was thrilling, I tell you.” “The two went down the side, they took off and I just said, ‘no, not just yet my man, let’s just wait’. I was able to wait.” “We topped the hill and I just briefly started to let him go and his ears just slightly went different directions, he was waiting for some company.” “Henlein obviously came to him and he knuckled down and his last furlong was so strong. Incredible training performance and I’m so proud to be a part of it.” “I’ll be at Flemington on Derby Day. So if he’s there, I’ll be on him, that’s for sure. This is fantastic.” El Castello is the first Group One winner for his sire the Arrowfield Stud based Champagne Stakes and Rosehill Guineas winner and Cox Plate runner-up Castelvecchio. A son of Dundeel and a half brother to Spring Champion Stakes winner Maid of Heaven, Castelvecchio earlier in the day sired the unbeaten Group Two winner Double Market – also a 2023 Gold Coast Yearling Sale purchase. El Castello’s dam, the Fastnet Rock mare Word Games, is a full sister to the group performed Wordplay and half sister to BMW Stakes and Victoria Derby winner Fiveandahalfstar. Wordplay, who was second in a Group Three Spring Stakes at Newcastle and fourth in a Group One Thousand Guineas at Caulfield, is now the dam of stakes performers Cryptogram and Word for Word. El Castello was just one of a number of Magic Millions sold runners to star in feature races around Australia on a massive day of racing. Bittercreek (Snitzel; $375,000, Gold Coast Yearling Sale) swept home for an impressive win in the Group Three Red Anchor Stakes at Moonee Valley giving the stable the first leg of a feature double. The Bennett Racing silks featured in the Valley winner’s stall for the stable later when Baraqiel (Snitzel; $150,000, Gold Coast Yearling Sale) produced a stunning sprint to lead home a Magic Millions sold 1-2-3-4 in the Group Two McEwen Stakes. This year’s Gold Coast National Broodmare Sale graduate Belclare (Per Incanto) led her rivals a merry dance to sweep the $2 million The Invitation at Randwick for trainer Bjorn Baker. Earlier on the Randwick card the former outstanding juvenile Prost (Snitzel; $650,000, Gold Coast Yearling Sale) produced a tough win in the Group Two Callander-Presnell Stakes. On the same card the exciting three-year-old Amazing Eagle (Capitalist; $400,000, Gold Coast Yearling Sale) scored an exciting fresh up win in the Listed Brian Crowley Stakes. Castelvecchio’s red letter day kicked off when his untapped three-year-old daughter Double Market ($100,000, Gold Coast Yearling Sale) went two from two in the Group Two Moonee Valley Fillies Classic. Winner: El Castello Breeding: Castelvecchio-Word Games (Fastnet Rock) Race: ATC Spring Champions Stakes G1 (2000m) Sold for: $220,000 Sale: 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale Earnings: $1,625,975 Breeder: Mr B Lindsay Vendor: Cambridge Stud Buyer: Anthony Cummings Racing Owners: Anthony Cummings Thoroughbreds Pty Ltd (Mgr: AJ Cummings), AR McAnulty, Mrs L McAnulty, Bangaloe Stud (Mgr: Miss JC Ritchie), RD Spratt, D O’Kane, P O’Kane, Mrs A Spratt, Wessel Thoroughbreds (Mgr: CJ Wessel) & RP Barwick Trainer: Anthony Cummings (Randwick) |
