“Incredible,” Ben Hayes said.
“He’s a horse (that) last prep he had to have surgery on both of his fetlocks, he got a couple of screws in and just didn’t have the confidence.
“I didn’t think we could win. He ran a really good race and hit the line over a trip too short but horses can surprise you and that is what he did today.”
So thrilled with the victory, a step up to the 1600-metres in March has the Flemington and Euroa-based training team thinking a berth in the $3 million feature should not be an extreme thought.
“He just won over 1400-metres in a stakes race, and I think he gets better when he gets out over a trip,” he added.
“Might have to get an All-Star Mile ticket!
El Soleado a potential ‘freak’
Jamie Kah suggests El Soleado could be a ‘freakish’ stayer in the making after he completed a winning hat-trick in the Goodwood Trophy (2000m).
It was Kah’s first ride on the gelding after Mark Zahra had steered the Robbie Laing-trained El Soleado to victory at Flemington and Caulfield at his previous two starts.
El Soleado was also having his first try at 2000m on Saturday.
“This horse is a push button out there and he does everything to make your job easy,” Kah said.
“He’s going to be freakish when he gets up over 2500 (metres) plus, I think.
“He took a little while, probably 100 metres, once I got out for him to reach his top, but I think as the races get longer, he’s going to get better.”