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EL PATRON with Dick Cardenas astride closes fast to nail CANTARE stealing home with Dane Nelson aboard.
TRAINER Anthony Nunes didn't mince words earlier this week, saying he was confident EL PATRON will win tomorrow's first leg of the Supreme Ventures Limited Two-Year-Old Series, the $2.95m Cash Pot Only One For Me Trophy race.
After watching unbeaten EL PATRON put away three-year-old stablemate INVICTUS, at exercise Sunday morning, posting 1:07.3 for five and a half furlongs, Nunes all but declared his colt home and dried - even if it rains tomorrow.
"So far, so good. He came out good and I am especially pleased that he worked well in the mud," he said. It was the first time he was working on a sloppy track and it was interesting to see how he handled it, pretty well," he added.
"He beat INVICTUS by about six lengths. I am very pleased. He is a very talented colt and I am very confident."
A field of nine will line up for tomorrow's 1200-metre event, the first of three races in the $10.8m Supreme Ventures Limited Two-Year-Old Series.
With the colt CANTARE showing indifferent form at exercise since beaten by EL PATRON on September 24, Gary Subratie's filly, AWESOME CAMILLE, is being touted as Nunes' only danger.
Subratie is determined to turn the tables on the colt who beat her by a neck on their debut at three furlongs straight.
In fact, he has a million reasons to do so. There is a $1m bonus on offer to sweep the series, unlike AWESOME CAMILLE, EL PATRON is not eligible for the bonus, as he was not bought at the annual Yearling Sale nor did his owners pay the $50,000 waiver.
"I think it will come down to two horses, EL PATRON and my horse," Subratie said. "EL PATRON is an improving horse, moving from strength to strength. He has beaten everybody in the race including my horse.
"However, my horse has also improved, she'll be better, so it won't be an easy race for him," he added, pointing out that AWESOME CAMILLE will be better for the rematch.
"When she ran against him the first time, she wasn't a hundred per cent ready, we just gave her a run," he added.
AWESOME CAMILLE will break from the dreaded 'one hole' for tomorrow's race, but her trainer believes she has the speed to turn the inside draw into an advantage.
"It's not the best draw in the world but no matter where she is, she's speedy and will get out of that quickly," said Subratie whose filly is well bred. Her mother, Lady T, won the 1000 Guineas and Jamaica Oaks in 2007.
Both horses impressed in subsequent races after a neck separated them on debut. On August 1, AWESOME CAMILLE returned treated with the anti-bleeding medication, Lasix, and blazed a track-record 45.0 for 800 metres straight, beating maiden company.
On his return, EL PATRON upped the ante by stepping up in class on September 24 to beat Wayne DaCosta's CANTARE, a winner of two races, at 1100 metres in the Rum Fire Dash.
AWESOME CAMILLE sat out that one because her owner, Subratie said, wanted her well rested for tomorrow's race.
Subratie said AWESOME CAMILLE could play the waiting game in what is expected to be e a hot pace.
"I am not worried about that," he said. "My horse doesn't have to lead."
AWESOME CAMILLE did run a cracking race over the straight to post a track record. However, in the very next race that day, KISSING CHRISSY, a $180,000 claimer, posted 1:00.3 out of the straight, behind splits of 23.1, 46.2, suggesting the course was on the fast side that afternoon.
Going off his victory over CANTARE and the evidence at exercise, EL PATRON must be the horse to beat.
