Trainer John Thompson is optimistic about El Castello’s latest campaign, feeling the Group 1 winner still possesses untapped potential on the racecourse.
The journey for connections of the five-year-old has been challenging. He established himself as a top contender in his generation with a victory in the 2024 Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) and a fifth place in the Victoria Derby (2500m) that same year.
However, after failing to consistently replicate his early promise as a colt, he underwent a gelding procedure during his last preparation, which unfortunately did not lead to immediate success in his sole subsequent start.
Now, having benefited from a spell in the paddock, Thompson reports that El Castello is exhibiting encouraging signs of renewed enthusiasm for racing.
“He was gelded in work and for mine, it never works and didn’t,” Thompson stated. “But being spelled, he was put out in a big paddock with three or four other horses and allowed to just be a horse and get back to nature. He’s come back, and his attitude is so much better. He’s just a normal horse now. His trials have been good. A couple of top jockeys have ridden him in the trials and at trackwork and all three have said he feels like he’s in great shape and ready to go.”
El Castello is set to reappear in a highly competitive renewal of the Tramway Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on Saturday, with seven of the eight runners being Group 1 winners.
Thompson anticipates that the 1400-metre distance may be short of El Castello’s optimal range but is eager to witness a positive performance that validates the horse’s recent progress on the training tracks.
“I think he needs to get to a mile, 2000 myself,” he commented. “The 1400 will be too short. He’s fresh and he normally runs well fresh, but I just want to see him run well and he’ll improve off the back of it.”
Thompson is also expecting a significant improvement from Screen Icon in the Furious Stakes (1200m). She raced prominently in the early stages of the Silver Shadow Stakes (1200m) before fading to a midfield finish when resuming.
He mentioned that the filly will be ridden more conservatively by her new jockey, Nash Rawiller, this weekend, allowing her a chance to finish strongly.
“I want her ridden a bit quieter,” Thompson said. “She’s got a good draw for once on Saturday so she’s going to get a lot better run. It should set up well for her, and we’ll know where we’re at.”
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