Kiwi Star El Padrino Dreams of Dubai
16 March 2015
Kiwi galloper El Padrino (NZ) (Mr Nancho) has aspiration of racing in Dubai following an impressive win fresh up last night in the Sgp-3 S$200,000 Merlion Trophy (1200m) in Singapore.
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El Padrino (NZ) winner of the Sgp-3 Merlion Trophy. |
It was the second successive year El Padrino has won the Merlion Trophy, his win last year was his first stakes victory. The Mr Nancho gelding added two consecutive wins in August last year for trainer Alwin Tan, the Sgp-3 Woodlands Handicap and the Asia Challenge Cup in South Korea – the first international invitational race in that country.
“This win proves once and for all he is much better on Polytrack. I will keep his future races on Polytrack from now on,” commented Tan. “This is the race I have long targeted for him. I didn’t dare give him any other race as I didn’t want to upset his preparation.
“He had two trials and the last one was very impressive. I knew he was fit and the return to Polytrack would be a big help, but he was up against a strong field.
“I’ve already submitted an application for Dubai. I hope he gets an invitation for the Golden Shaheen, which is run on dirt. This year I have done his vaccinations early. We are ready to go there this time.”
El Padrino was invited to race in the Golden Shaheen last year, however, he was not vaccinated early enough to be permitted to travel to Dubai for the race.
Jockey Oscar Chavez jumped El Padrino from an inside barrier, going to the tail of the field in the early stages. Twelve-lengths from pacemaker Magneto (Footstepsinthesand), El Padrino continued to trail the field as approached the turn for home.
Making up ground as he progressed up the straight, El Padrino stormed past the field on the outside to finish the race strongly. Coming from last to first, El Padrino won by 1.3 lengths over Stepitup (Hussonet) and Goodman (NZ) (Alamosa), who finished in second and third place respectively.
With 10 wins from his 33 starts, the six-year-old gelding has earned a total of S$970,227 to date for owners One Eight Eight Stable.
El Padrino was purchased at the 2009 National Weanling, Broodmare & Mixed Bloodstock Sale by Noel Nicholson for $10,000 from Twin Pines. He then returned to the 2010 Ready to Run Sale of 2YO’s and was purchased by Mr Soon Hock Lee from Singapore for $56,000 from Endsleigh Thoroughbreds.
Bred by Assured Assets Pty Ltd, El Padrino is out of unraced mare Crownie (Luskin Star), who is a half-sister to Australian stakes winner Nullabor (Military Plume), winner of the Listed Ascot Stakes.