Trainer Robert Hickmott says it would be lovely to win a race at Flemington with El Soleado having been entrusted with the training of the gelding following the death of Robbie Laing.
El Soleado was Laing’s last starter before his sudden death less than a fortnight ago.
Laing saddled El Soleado to run second in a benchmark 84 race at Flemington over 1200m on June 7 before dying in his sleep that night.
Owned by Colleen and Kevin Bamford, El Soleado was transferred into the care of Hickmott and is set to run in The David Bourke (1620m) at Flemington on Saturday.
El Soleado underwent a wind operation at the end of his last campaign before lumping 61.5kg in his first-up performance when narrowly beaten by Marble Nine.
“He came to me looking an absolute picture,” Hickmott said.
“First-up after that wind operation, his run was exceptional, and he run a peak figure that day over 1200 (metres).
“Now he’s stepping to the 1600, second-up, so I’m hoping he hasn’t got that second-up syndrome after that excellent first-up run.
“His work on Tuesday morning was exceptional without asking too much of him.
“It would be lovely to win a race for Robbie and Colleen and Kevin. They had so much to do with Robbie and it would be fitting if he was able to win on Saturday.
“It’s an even field. There are no world-beaters in there and I would say he’s right in there.”
El Soleado has been in Hickmott’s care for just over a week.
Hickmott has had to rely on the Bamford’s to learn the background on El Soleado as he prepares the gelding for Saturday’s race and further into the campaign.
“I’ve got a pretty good relationship with Colleen, and I’ve had a few chats with her about his background,” Hickmott said.
“He’s a pretty straight forward horse and that’s what he’s shown me so far, but we do have to keep a close eye on his throat, but it sounds beautiful during his work.
“It’s always a bit risky getting a horse off wind surgery, but it was a fantastic return over 1200 metres, an unsuitable journey.”
Hickmott said he will learn more about El Soleado following Saturday’s outing and has not ruled out a start in the Listed VRC-CRV Winter Championship Series Final (1600m) at Flemington on July 5.
“The final is probably the next logical race if we get through this,” Hickmott said.
“Not having had the horse race before, the signs are there that he is going to run well, but there is improvement left in him, no doubts about that.
“Whether that’s good enough on Saturday, time will tell.”
