EL Estruenoso (ARG, photo) was very green in his 1400m debut at Scottsville on Tuesday, but managed to produce a powerful finished and won going away.
Bred in the purple by Giant’s Causeway from a Roy mare that won at Group level, El Estruenoso is a big chestnut who looks to have a lot of scope on the evidence of his first outing to the racetrack.
He was slow out niggled at by jockey Anthony Delpech and for a few moments looked in a spot of bother after the home turn, but when he put his stride together he made up rapid headway, got into the lead and won by three-quarters, starting at 7-10.
“He didn’t come out too well and he was a bit nervous,” said jockey Anthony Delpech. “I considered rushing him around the field to take up the running, but decided to teach him something as he shows us ability at home, so I rather kept him back. He was a bit lost around the bend and we had to check and switch, but he won without the stick, which was good.”
Assistant trainer Nathan Kotzen said: “All he could do is win. This wasn’t the strongest of fields, but he won a good race. He is going the right way.”
El Estruenoso is owned by Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum.
Chestnut Chip wins for Abram Makhubo.
At Turffontein, leading work rider Abram Makhubo kept Chestnut Chip going to win a Maiden Plate over 1600m for Stef du Preez and her partners.
“I gave her a chance and she gave me a nice kick in the straight. She kept finding more,” Makhubo said.