Phillip Devcich on right leading horse
Trish Dunell
It may have been a Group One upset of epic proportions, but a main player behind the Ellerslie shock didn't share the betting market's pessimism.
The veteran El Soldado made it fourth time lucky in the Gr.1 Barfoot & Thompson Auckland Cup on Saturday with a brave front-running performance that rocked punters with a whopping $125 winning dividend.
Breeder and trainer Phillip Devcich, who races the nine-year-old with his sister Christine and her husband Brent, gave his durable gelding a strong chance of victory.
"Definitely, he's such a good stayer," he said. "This is the one we set him for and he peaked on the right day. We put the work into him and he travelled up here beautifully."
El Soldado, who ran second in the 2013 cup behind Sangster, was partnered by Awapuni jockey Darryl Bradley who trekked north for the one mount.
"He rode him perfectly," Devcich said. "I said to Darryl that he would outstay them and that's what he's done. To win a Group One is unbelievable."
While Bradley may not have shared Devcich's confidence, he carried out his instructions to the letter.
"To win a race like the Auckland Cup is a great honour and something I wasn't expecting this morning," he said.
The cup was devoid of any pace in the early stages before Bradley decided enough was enough and made his move.
"He wasn't happy in a slowly run race so I let him slide forward with a round to go," he said.
"He had proved he could run the two miles and that gave me some hope."
El Soldado, also the veteran of three hurdle starts in the winter of 2014, revelled in his front-running role and he had the chasing pack off the bit when he slipped clear on the turn and he stuck on grimly in the straight to beat Rose Of Virginia and the favourite Sacred Master.
"This is one race I never thought I could win – I'm so grateful, it's beautiful," Bradley said. – NZ Racing Desk.
The veteran El Soldado made it fourth time lucky in the Gr.1 Barfoot & Thompson Auckland Cup on Saturday with a brave front-running performance that rocked punters with a whopping $125 winning dividend.
Breeder and trainer Phillip Devcich, who races the nine-year-old with his sister Christine and her husband Brent, gave his durable gelding a strong chance of victory.
"Definitely, he's such a good stayer," he said. "This is the one we set him for and he peaked on the right day. We put the work into him and he travelled up here beautifully."
El Soldado, who ran second in the 2013 cup behind Sangster, was partnered by Awapuni jockey Darryl Bradley who trekked north for the one mount.
"He rode him perfectly," Devcich said. "I said to Darryl that he would outstay them and that's what he's done. To win a Group One is unbelievable."
While Bradley may not have shared Devcich's confidence, he carried out his instructions to the letter.
"To win a race like the Auckland Cup is a great honour and something I wasn't expecting this morning," he said.
The cup was devoid of any pace in the early stages before Bradley decided enough was enough and made his move.
"He wasn't happy in a slowly run race so I let him slide forward with a round to go," he said.
"He had proved he could run the two miles and that gave me some hope."
El Soldado, also the veteran of three hurdle starts in the winter of 2014, revelled in his front-running role and he had the chasing pack off the bit when he slipped clear on the turn and he stuck on grimly in the straight to beat Rose Of Virginia and the favourite Sacred Master.
"This is one race I never thought I could win – I'm so grateful, it's beautiful," Bradley said. – NZ Racing Desk.