Anthony Cummings is never frightened to set the bar high for a promising horse and his Castelvecchio three year-old El Castello kicked his spring campaign off with a maiden win at Warwick Farm on Wednesday that is likely to pave the way for a return to stakes class.
Third on debut at Warwick Farm back in April and then a gallant second to Broadsiding in the Listed ATC Fernhill Mile, El Castello closed out his autumn when unplaced on a bog track in the Group I ATC Champagne Stakes.
Spelled straight after that and then given three trials to bring him to peak fitness for his return, El Castello was strong to the line in a competitive maiden over 1400m scoring a tenacious head win.
“He’s a nice horse with a really bright future,” said Anthony Cummings.
“The plan was always to come here first and then we will have choices to make.
“We’ll probably go to a midweek Benchmark race and then look towards the Gloaming Stakes (G3 1800m October 18) and Spring Champion Stakes (G1 2000m October 26).”
El Castello’s sire Castelvecchio won the Group I ATC Champagne Stakes at two and was then second in both the ATC Spring Champion Stakes and Cox Plate before returning in the autumn to win the Group I ATC Rosehill Guineas, so you can see why Anthony Cummings is keen get the colt out in trip.
A $220,000 Magic Millions purchase from the Cambridge Stud draft, El Castello is the first winner from Word Games, a metro winning half-sister by Fastnet Rock to dual Group I winner Fiveandahalfstar, who was also bred and trained by Anthony Cummings to win the Victoria Derby and The BMW.
It’s a family Cummings knows well and El Castello looks a great chance to write his own chapter of success.
El Castello is the fifth first crop winner for Castelvecchio , who stands alongside his sire Dundeel at Arrowfield Stud at a fee of $22,000.
