How good was that for a win?
Estadio Mestalla led virtually from barrier to box at Rosehill Gardens, where race fitness proved the crucial ingredient in winning the Mounties Group Benchmark 100 Handicap over 1500m.
Forget about the 7-day back-up. Estadio Mestalla was on a 6-day turnaround after a gutsy third in the Goulburn Cup last Sunday.
EMILIO’S ROSEHILL LOVE AFFAIR
Known in Joe Pride’s Warwick Farm stable simply as Emilio, his tenacity has always impressed Joe.
“Congratulations, everyone, it was a strong win and a great ride from Adam, he’s obviously a very good horse at Rosehill, look, he’s a good horse wherever he goes, but does seem to pull out something extra at Rosehill, and we know how good he is on the back-up.”
Keep in mind the NSW Tycoons purchased Estadio Mestalla for a mere $65,000, and Saturday’s win takes him over the $900,000 mark.
Prelim with Estadio Mestalla
Estadio Mestalla’s winning owners NSW Tycoons
HIPPO EVEN LOOKED SURPRISED
Estadio wasn’t actually that cleanly away, and when Adam Hyeronimus gave him a dig in the ribs, he accelerated and set a hot pace.
It was Hippo’s first ride on the horse, and he actually looked very pleasantly surprised that the horse could keep going so strongly in the straight after stringing the field out.
“I had to give him a shake-up at the jump, and he really got going. Down the back when we started turning, I thought this isn’t sustainable.
“He really wanted to rock and roll but full credit to him he never gave anything else a chance.
NEXT UP – MILLION DOLLAR TARGETS
Emilio isn’t qualified for the Big or Little Dance, but as Joe explains, there are other lucrative targets.
“You don’t want to be dragging a tired horse into the Spring, so more realistic targets for him would be the $1 million Hunter at Newcastle or the Gong $1 million at Kembla Grange, where he holds the track record. .
“The Gong is a week after the Hunter, one is 1300m, and a week later the Gong is over 1600m. But I do feel they are two races he can be very competitive in, and realistically weighted in, and good targets.
“Then you have the Ingham ($2 million) in the early part of December at Randwick.
Yes it would have been nice to have a crack at the Big or Little Dance, but Joe points out horses aren’t machines.
“Look to get him qualified now would be a big ask, and I don’t really want to keep him going now, he is 7 runs into this preparation.
Estadio Mestalla
A WELL-DESERVED HOLIDAY
Estadio Mestalla certainly felt the two tough runs in the space of six days and was a tired horse on Sunday morning.
He’ll go to the paddock for a short spell and hopefully the Spring sunshine on his back will have him ready for a late Spring assault.
Enjoy the holiday, Emilio.