ESTADIO MESTALLA A HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION

So good to see a massive turnout from NSW Tycoons for the announcement of their horse Estadio Mestalla being named the HIGHEST SUCCESSFUL WEIGHT CARRIER at ATC tracks for the 2025/26 Season. 

When you think about it, it’s no mean feat. 

Of the hundreds of races staged over Royal Randwick, Rosehill Gardens, Warwick Farm and Canterbury, no other horse carried more weight to victory than Estadio did in winning the Choisir Stakes over 1100m on Big Dance Day, November 4. 

The impost was 63kgs!

In fact, that’s more than any horse has carried to victory at ATC tracks in the last 3 years. 

Tycoons celebrated with a gala breakfast in the Owners Pavilion at Royal Randwick, overlooking the theatre of the horse. 

I haven’t checked, but some may still be there. 

THANKS TO JOE AND HIS TEAM

That win on Melbourne Cup day, obviously, would not have been possible without the genius of trainer Joe Pride and his team. 

Even for Joe, and jockey Adam Hyeronimus, that win over 1100m at Randwick was somewhat of a surprise but a pleasant one. 

It also was the starting point of a remarkable preparation, with Estadio going on to be runner-up in the Group 3 Gong, the Group 2 Ingham and third in the Group 3 Summer Cup. 

That is some prep, when you start by winning over 1100m carrying a record 63kg, and finish off with a second at Randwick over 2000m in a Group 3. 

WHAT’S NEXT 

Like many Southerners, Estadio Mestalla had a holiday in Queensland after striking that unsuitable Heavy track for the Group 1 Stradbroke. 

Emilio had roughly 4 weeks soaking up the Queensland sun, and has been back in pre-training a couple of weeks with Joe. 

No obvious Spring target, but the Big or Little Dance could still be a possibility; watch this space. 

Go you good thing!