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 it only seems fitting that his first Group I winner should arrive in a race like the Spring Champion Stakes (2000m).
A race won also by his grand-sire Dundeel, the Group I ATC Spring Champion Stakes has been the plan for the Anthony Cummings trained colt El Castello since he resumed from a spell to win a maiden over 1400m at Warwick Farm on September 7.
That plan has come together in flawless fashion with subsequent wins in a Benchmark race and then the Group III ATC Gloaming Stakes (1800m) seeing him start favourite with Josh Parr to ride.
Parr took luck out of the equation working forward to travel in second place and El Castello did the rest, pulling out plenty when challenged by Dundeel colt Henlein to win by half a length with lightly raced Yes Yes Yes colt Firm Agreement a strong third.
“He's just a very good horse. The preparation went perfectly, everything worked out. He turned up the best horse today and I still think he improves again. It's a dumb thing to say, I know, but if I had to pick fault today he's maybe half a run short, but today's race into next week, he'll be fine. All to say, we're in good shape,” said Anthony Cummings, who is already plotting path to the Group I VRC Victoria Derby next Saturday.
"Standing here today, the decision is yes. But we've got to get him home and make sure that he's OK and tick a fair few boxes before we do that. But that was the plan. The preparation was set up so that today's race would give him the step to go to the Derby. Looks like that will happen."
Josh Parr has been on El Castello in three of his four wins this prep.
"Wow. That was thrilling, I tell you. The two went down the side, they took off and I just said, 'no, not just yet my man, let's just wait'. I was able to wait. We topped the hill and I just briefly started to let him go and his ears just slightly went different directions, he was waiting for some company,” said Parr.
“Henlein obviously came to him and he knuckled down and his last furlong was so strong. Incredible training performance and I'm so proud to be a part of it.
"I'll be at Flemington on Derby Day. So if he's there, I'll be on him, that's for sure. This is fantastic."
A $220,000 Magic Millions purchase from the Cambridge Stud draft, El Castello was also bred by Brendan and Jo Lindsay and has the overall record of four wins and two placings from seven starts with prizemoney of $1.6million.
He 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 has now written his own chapter of success.
Word Games has a yearling filly by the Cambridge Stud based Almanzor (FR) and has foaled this spring producing another filly by the same sire.
El Castello is the first Group I winner for Castelvecchio , who stands alongside his sire Dundeel at Arrowfield Stud at a fee of $22,000.
Castelvecchio had a stakes double on Saturday with his filly Double Market taking out the Group II MVRC Fillies Classic (1600m) at Moonee Valley.
