Now that was a WIN, arguably the biggest and the best the NSW Tycoons have had in their short and successful history.
Estatdio Mestalla ran his rivals ragged in a stunning upset to win the $200,000 Listed Winter Stakes at Rosehill Gardens – the feature race on the card.
It was even sweeter because it was so unexpected. Sure, plenty of Tycoons kept the faith and had something small on, but hand on heart, how many actually thought he could win, particularly when he blew out to $61 at jump time?
JOCKEY FEARFUL OF OWNER’S BACKLASH
Now for the ride, and Dylan Gibbons deserves every accolade thrown at him.
He was well aware this was a TRL horse and thousands of owners would be watching his every move, and it proved a worthwhile motivation.
“I thought we were going to see a good performance from the horse and with his millions of owners, I didn’t want to be the most hated man at Rosehill, so I had to get him home,” Dylan explained to Sky Racing and the waiting media.
“The horse had no weight. Joe looked like he had him primed for today, and I rode him accordingly. It was a tough effort.” Gibbons concluded.
The comeback jockey was having his first ride on the horse and didn’t hesitate to go forward and lead when stuck wide after beginning well.
Post race with trainer Joe Pride and jockey Dylan Gibbons
Estadio Mestalla returning to with winner enclosure
OWNERS INSIDE EDGE
The advantage of being an owner in any of the TRL teams is the insights you get from your trainer, and that was definitely on display for all NSW Tycoons with Joe’s final word from the tie-up stalls stating, “ I think he will run well, a set of blinkers on him. The plan is to go forward and they should switch him on.
“I would be disappointed today if he doesn’t run a nice race for us, he’s been perfect at home, he might be looking for something a bit further.
“But with the shades and a genuinely run 1400m, it should be just about ideal for him today.”
After that pre-race report, many NSW Tycoons would have been guided into a small investment for what turned out to be a big return.
TERRIFIC MEDIA COVERAGE
The front page of the racing section in the Sunday Telegraph said it all, with a big photograph of Estadio Mestall and the headline screaming “In From The Cold.” Joe sees positive signs as bolter finally warms to the task after early winter woe.
Sure, journalist Ray Thomas got it right. Estadio’s two runs in this preparation had been way below par, finishing well back on both occasions and not attacking the line in either.
It left Joe scratching his head and with only one option.
Estadio Mestalla
BLINKERS ON
“Blinkers On” is a master stroke or an act of desperation, let’s go with a bit of both, but when a rising 7-year-old like Estadio Mestalla loses form many times, blinkers are the only tool left for the trainer.
Joe made the call and they sure did their job. He was a different horse going to the gates.
“With blinkers on today, he took off a bit on the rider going to the gates and that was good sign. At his first two starts he was going around to the start like a kid’s pony.”
“He is a very competitive horse, I know the market forgot him today and for good reason, his two runs back have been plain.
“He’s a good horse and it’s nice to see him return to that.” Joe said.
WHAT’S NEXT
You’d better dust off those dancing shoes. The plan at this stage is to try and get Estadio Mestalla qualified again for the Big or Little Dance, and that’s not an easy task, but the big money is irresistible.
As Joe said, “The South Grafton Cup is going to come up to quickly, it’s next week so we will more than likely look at the Coffs Harbour Cup and that’s on August 1.”
If you remember from last year, Estadio will need to finish top two to qualify.
The Big and Little Dance are staged at Royal Randwick on Melbourne Cup.
Go Tycoons!