History-making galloper El Padrino will not be seen on a racetrack again.
The 10-time winner whose two Group 3 Merlion Trophy wins (2014 and 2015) were probably eclipsed by his feat of becoming the first Singapore-based horse to claim a win in South Korea, raced for the last time in the Group 3 Colonial Chief Stakes (1700m) on December 4, 2016, beating one home, around 12 lengths off the winner Daniel.
El Padrino was no world-beater but grew a leg whenever he raced on his preferred Polytrack or any other all-weather surface, most notably overseas where he really stamped himself among one of Singapore's best exports.
Originally known as Ip Man, the son of Mr Nancho, who was first prepared by David Kok before being handed over to Steven Burridge, was one of three gallopers – other two being Dark Matter and Captain Obvious - to pioneer the Dubai venture for the Australian handler (he currently has Elite Excalibur, Jay Eff Express and Hermano Menor about to race there) in 2012.
All three won at Meydan, but El Padrino was the only one to ply the Singapore-Dubai route again, three years later, performing creditably in the Group 1 Dubai Golden Shaheen (1200m), running fourth only two lengths off US winner Secret Circle.
And that does not include two aborted trips to the Middle-Eastern racing haven. In 2014, he was invited by the Dubai Racing Club to contest the same Dubai Golden Shaheen on the strength of his first Merlion Trophy win, but had to pull the pin for not having the right vaccinations on time and last year, the Strangles outbreak saw Dubai impose a blanket ban on all Singapore horses.
But El Padrino's finest moment came in Seoul in 2014 when he flew home on the notorious deep sand to win the Asia Challenge Cup (1400m), giving his Korean and Japanese rivals a galloping lesson. He was re-invited the next year but had to settle for second place over the shortened trip of 1200m.
Ironically, his regular partner Oscar Chavez, who won at eight of his 10 wins, missed out at his Korean triumph, giving way to US jockey David Flores, who was also aboard at his first Merlion Trophy win – arguably his most impressive win – when he came from last to slay his rivals with a five-length thumping.
El Padrino may be lost to Singapore racing, but Chavez was not about to let go his pet horse so soon. The Panamanian-born jockey will rehome him at his Kelantan farm where he will join his other former fellow Dubai raider, Captain Obvious.
"El Padrino and Captain Obvious gave me two of my most memorable moments of my riding career in Dubai. I have both winning pictures in my living room," said Chavez.
"But I probably have a softer spot for El Padrino as I've ridden him at almost all his races. If not for his hoof issues, he could have done so much more.
"He is now in quarantine and waiting to go up to Kelantan. He deserves a nice retirement and will join his old buddy Captain Obvious there."
El Padrino's third trainer Alwin Tan, and with whom he achieved the most international success, said all good things have to come to an end.
"I'm very sad when good horses retire, especially El Padrino who won in Korea for me and was such a special horse. But unfortunately his coffin bone issue was coming back," said the Singaporean handler.
"The Colonial Chief Stakes was his last try, that was the race that told me he had come to the end. On that day, he was more forward than normal but Oscar said nobody wanted to lead and he had to let him go.
"But when he jumped off, he himself told me he had run his last race. I still had to discuss with his owner Mr Phua, and we agreed that the best choice was to retire him instead of putting him through more stress of keeping him racing.
"Oscar loves this horse a lot and proposed to take him to his Kelantan farm. Mr Phua and myself are very grateful to him for that.
"Mr Phua will still pay for his keep but at least, we know he has found a good home and shelter where he can spend the rest of his life happy and healthy."
El Padrino has retired with the proud record of 10 wins and 13 placings from 48 starts for prizemoney close to the $1.3 million mark. -STC
The 10-time winner whose two Group 3 Merlion Trophy wins (2014 and 2015) were probably eclipsed by his feat of becoming the first Singapore-based horse to claim a win in South Korea, raced for the last time in the Group 3 Colonial Chief Stakes (1700m) on December 4, 2016, beating one home, around 12 lengths off the winner Daniel.
El Padrino was no world-beater but grew a leg whenever he raced on his preferred Polytrack or any other all-weather surface, most notably overseas where he really stamped himself among one of Singapore's best exports.
Originally known as Ip Man, the son of Mr Nancho, who was first prepared by David Kok before being handed over to Steven Burridge, was one of three gallopers – other two being Dark Matter and Captain Obvious - to pioneer the Dubai venture for the Australian handler (he currently has Elite Excalibur, Jay Eff Express and Hermano Menor about to race there) in 2012.
All three won at Meydan, but El Padrino was the only one to ply the Singapore-Dubai route again, three years later, performing creditably in the Group 1 Dubai Golden Shaheen (1200m), running fourth only two lengths off US winner Secret Circle.
And that does not include two aborted trips to the Middle-Eastern racing haven. In 2014, he was invited by the Dubai Racing Club to contest the same Dubai Golden Shaheen on the strength of his first Merlion Trophy win, but had to pull the pin for not having the right vaccinations on time and last year, the Strangles outbreak saw Dubai impose a blanket ban on all Singapore horses.
But El Padrino's finest moment came in Seoul in 2014 when he flew home on the notorious deep sand to win the Asia Challenge Cup (1400m), giving his Korean and Japanese rivals a galloping lesson. He was re-invited the next year but had to settle for second place over the shortened trip of 1200m.
Ironically, his regular partner Oscar Chavez, who won at eight of his 10 wins, missed out at his Korean triumph, giving way to US jockey David Flores, who was also aboard at his first Merlion Trophy win – arguably his most impressive win – when he came from last to slay his rivals with a five-length thumping.
El Padrino may be lost to Singapore racing, but Chavez was not about to let go his pet horse so soon. The Panamanian-born jockey will rehome him at his Kelantan farm where he will join his other former fellow Dubai raider, Captain Obvious.
"El Padrino and Captain Obvious gave me two of my most memorable moments of my riding career in Dubai. I have both winning pictures in my living room," said Chavez.
"But I probably have a softer spot for El Padrino as I've ridden him at almost all his races. If not for his hoof issues, he could have done so much more.
"He is now in quarantine and waiting to go up to Kelantan. He deserves a nice retirement and will join his old buddy Captain Obvious there."
El Padrino's third trainer Alwin Tan, and with whom he achieved the most international success, said all good things have to come to an end.
"I'm very sad when good horses retire, especially El Padrino who won in Korea for me and was such a special horse. But unfortunately his coffin bone issue was coming back," said the Singaporean handler.
"The Colonial Chief Stakes was his last try, that was the race that told me he had come to the end. On that day, he was more forward than normal but Oscar said nobody wanted to lead and he had to let him go.
"But when he jumped off, he himself told me he had run his last race. I still had to discuss with his owner Mr Phua, and we agreed that the best choice was to retire him instead of putting him through more stress of keeping him racing.
"Oscar loves this horse a lot and proposed to take him to his Kelantan farm. Mr Phua and myself are very grateful to him for that.
"Mr Phua will still pay for his keep but at least, we know he has found a good home and shelter where he can spend the rest of his life happy and healthy."
El Padrino has retired with the proud record of 10 wins and 13 placings from 48 starts for prizemoney close to the $1.3 million mark. -STC