Trent Busuttin says there’s not another horse in the stable that has as much speed as El Sicario who finally put it altogether to score a city win at Sandown.
El Sicario’s win in Saturday’s Ladbrokes Odds Boost Handicap was his first on turf after his two previous wins had come on the synthetic track at Pakenham.
Ridden by apprentice Zac Span, El Sicario ($6.50) scored by a length from Sovereign Duke ($6.50) with The Dynamo ($20) a long-neck away third.
Busuttin, who trains in partnership with Natalie Young, said El Sicario had been a handful in the past.
“He’s still got a long way to go but it’s good to get a nice win for the owners,” Busuttin said.
“We don’t have a horse in trackwork that runs faster but sooner or later the penny was always going to drop.”
Busuttin praised Spain for his initiative after the gelding began quickly.
“We were hoping to go back and get some cover with him but when the horse jumped he assessed things, made the call and rode it good,” Busuttin said.
“He’s working hard for the stable so it’s good to get a nice win.”
Despite looking like he will get over a longer trip than Saturday’s 1000m, Busuttin said El Sicario would be kept to sprint journeys.
“To look at him he’s a big, skinny, rangy staying type but we tried to get him out over a trip,” Busuttin said.
“He ran second in a Group One over 1400 metres in New Zealand but his racing manners have restricted him back at a sprint trip.
“While he’s racing like that, we’ll keep him at the sprints.”
