Oldie but a goodie wins again at Ashburton
He’s the equivalent of a golden oldies rugby player turning out in the ITM Cup but the granddad of South Island galloping just keeps on giving.
El Chico, a wily 12-year-old, won the 24th race of his career on his 141st trip to the starting gates at Friday’s Ashburton meeting. Nippin, a nine-year-old who would normally have been considered the old boy of the field in the open handicap over 1400m, was the only runner in the field who was born when El Chico started racing.
In a remarkable career that has seen El Chico win more than $660,000 in stakes, the durable veteran has won a race in each of the 10 seasons he has been competing.
Friday’s win was the first for El Chico since his Cup week double in 2015 that saw him win the Group III Stewards’ Stakes before picking up a win over 1400m three days later.
The Michael and Matt Pitmantrained gelding returned $9.90 on the tote for his one and a half length win. Pitman stable apprentice Parvesh Shaikh’s 3kg claim proved critical to the win and he gave the old boy a charmed trip before running past the field down the outside.
Meanwhile, Riccarton trainers Kevin and Pam Hughes have taken Maybe Miami north for the $100,000 Manawatu Challenge Stakes at Awapuni on Saturday. Regular jockey Chris Johnson will take the ride in the weight-for-age race over 1400m. The five-year-old son of Iffraaj has drawn wide in barrier 13 and is a $14 chance with bookmakers.
Maybe Miami disappointed in the Coupland’s Bakeries Mile but ran a nice second to Batman three days later over his more preferred distance of 1400m at his last start. The Hughes’ have also taken Pat In Brackets north to contest a $25,000 rating 75 over 1500m.