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Star Sydney colt El Castello is poised for his fifth consecutive victory when he lines-up in Saturday’s (2 November) gruelling G1 Victoria Derby (2500m) at Flemington.
Success would reward trainer Anthony Cummings with his first Derby victory since Fiveandahalfstar won the 2012 edition of the Classic for three-year-olds.
El Castello and talented Melbourne colt Henlein staged a great fight up the Randwick straight in last Saturday's (26 October) G1 Spring Champion Stakes (2000m), with the final margin just under half a length.
Cummings, who also bred El Castello, has marvelled at the progression of the colt who kicked off his career in April with a third in a 1300m Warwick Farm maiden as a rank outsider.
The colt was spelled after failing on heavy ground in a Group 1 at Randwick at his third start when he finished 20 lengths last.
He resumed in September with a 1400m maiden victory, then won at 1600m, won the G3 Gloaming Stakes at 1800m and his Spring Champion Stakes win has given Cummings the confidence the extra 500m of the Derby won't be a concern.
"He's just a very good horse, the preparation went perfectly," Cummings said after Saturday's win. "He turned up the best horse today. I still think he improves again.
"The preparation was set up so that today's race would give him the step to go to the Derby."
Already with AU$1.625 million (approx. HK$8.35 million) in stakes, victory in the Derby would add another AU$1.2 million (approx. HK$6.45 million) to El Castello's bank.
Former top jockey turned Flemington trainer, Nick Ryan, rates his Red Aces as a big chance after last week's G2 The Vase (2040m) victory at Moonee Valley.
Already with a win and a second over 1800m at Flemington, Ryan said it's a big advantage for the colt to race on his home track.
"It's his home deck and we love playing on our home deck. It's just exciting," Ryan said.
Hong Kong-based jockey Hugh Bowman has won the Derby three times – Lion Tamer (2010), Sangster (2011) and Polanski (2013) – and flies into ride Keeneland for Trent Busuttin, who now trains with his partner Natalie Young.
Bowman rode Sangster to victory in 2011 for Busuttin and like Keeneland, which races in the same colours, was placed in the G3 Caulfield Classic (2000m) in the lead-up race to the Derby.
He will also ride King Of Enterprise in the G3 Carbine Club Stakes (1600m), Johnny Rocker in the G3 Rising Fast Stakes (1200m), Bodyguard in the G1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m), Kimochi in the G1 Empire Rose Stakes (1600m), Infancy in the G3 Furphy Sprint (1100m) and More Territories in the G3 The Vanity (1400m).
"Delighted to come back, riding for some good friends and good clients," Bowman said.
"All my rides are for people I've had great associations with over the years, it's a great day's racing I'm looking forward to being part of it."
Matt Cumani-trained Kingofwallstreet, who beat Derby contenders China Sea and Keeneland in the Caulfield Classic, looms as a serious contender, along with John O'Shea and Tom Charlton-trained King Of Thunder.
The mystery of the Derby is whether the youngsters will stay the 2500m trip.
