Who knows what may have transpired and it will always remain a mystery but could Estadio Mestalla have won the $1 million Gong at Kembla Grange on November 23 if he made the final field?
Unfortunately, we will never know Estadio Mestalla was balloted out of the $1 million Gong but clocked a faster time in winning the consolation than Gringotts did in winning the feature race over the same distance on the day.
Now we know the industry pays out on racing and not times but who knows if Estadio could have pressured Gringotts in the big one and collected the massive prize cheque.
TYCOONS WILL TAKE THE WIN
Look, don’t worry no one is complaining about winning a Benchmark 88 Handicap on a big standalone day – particularly when everyone knows how hard it is to win any race, anywhere.
Also keep in mind that Estadio Mestalla, was giving away seven kilograms to runner-up Chica Mojito and repelled the challenge to win by 0.8 of a length in that now track record time of 1.33.50.
“Sure we were disappointed he missed the final field for the Gong because I still think he would have raced well in the race.
“He is a very honest horse who’s been a fantastic pick-up for the NSW Tycoons and some of my stable clients with everyone enjoying the ride on many of the feature days of the carnival.
“Horses like this aren’t easy to find and he’s bringing a lot of joy to a lot of people” Pride said.
DROUGHT BROKEN
Estadio Mestalla has been such a constant horse throughout his career finishing second eight times in his 23 starts but has now posted 5 wins.
“I thought today again he was going to run second,” Pride said.
“He clearly got headed, but he really fought very hard and it was a good win.
To his credit jockey Chad Schofield gave him a “peach of a ride” and had no doubt Estadio responded to the challenge and would actually get over more ground.
“Went perfectly to plan really, jumped well, we used our good gate, I got him rolling early with that big weight so at the 600metres I had to get him mobile because I knew it would be hard to get him to dash with that big weight.
“Then I just had to bank on his guts late and he showed plenty of courage to fend them off and he was just so brave and I got the feeling that he would have fended them off for another couple of hundred metres” Schofield said.
WHATS NEXT FOR ESTADIO
There’s been a name change and a prize money upgrade for the time-honoured Villiers on Saturday December 14 at Royal Randwick, it’s now called the Ingham and is worth a cracking $2 million dollars.
That’s the target for Estadio Mestalla and it’s not an unrealistic target being on the fourth line of betting at $11 behind the favourite Gringotts $3, Port Lockroy $6 along with Private Eye $6.
“He deserves his chance in a race like the Ingham, $2 million races aren’t easy to win but this bloke is rock-hard fit, in good form and always gives his best, so why not have a crack” Joe said.
Good luck Tycoons.