Breeding & Racing Magazine

El Segundo Set To Return This Weekend

After "weeks of indecision, a strong gallop at Moonee Valley yesterday morning finally convinced trainer Colin Little" that multiple Gr1-winning 7YO gelding El Segundo (Pins-Palos Verdes, by Oak Ridge) is "ready to return to the races," reported The Sydney Morning Herald. Due to a tendon injury, El Segundo has not raced since the winning 2007's unofficial Australian weight-for-age championship, the Gr1 Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley, "but Little had hoped he would be forward enough to resume in Friday night's Gr2 Carlyon Stakes (1200m)" at that same Melbourne track. After yesterday's hit-out, Little confirmed: "We'll probably run him. He has got through this morning well & his leg is okay this afternoon, so I think that is the way we will be heading". El Segundo (a NZ$140,000 yearling at the 2003 NZ Bloodstock Premier Sale at Karaka) boasts 12 wins (also including the Gr1 Orr Stakes over 1400m, Gr1 Underwood Stakes over 1800m, Gr1 Yalumba Stakes over 2000m, Gr2 Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes over 1600m, Gr2 Carlyon Stakes over 1200m, Gr2 Memsie Stakes over 1400m & Listed JRA Cup over 2040m) & 7 placings (including 2006's Gr1 Cox Plate over 2040m, plus the Gr1 Futurity Stakes over 1600m, Gr1 Yalumba Stakes over 2000m & Listed Aurie's Star Handicap over 1200m) from 26 starts for $3,791,875 earnings.