El Caballo bags sixth successive win with Sandy Lane triumph
El Caballo riden by Clifford Lee at the Cazoo Sandy Lane Stakes at Haydock Park racecourse
Karl Burke’s El Caballo showed no signs of stopping his dominance as he powered to victory in the Group Two Cazoo Sandy Lane Stakes at Haydock.
The Havana Gold colt has enjoyed a stellar year so far, winning three times on synthetic surfaces. This includes the Listed Spring Cup Stakes win at Lingfield, as well as the 3 Year Old All-Weather Championships Condition Stakes held at Newcastle on Good Friday.
El Caballo has also proved to be a proven contender on turf, going on to win a recent Carlisle novice over five furlongs.
At Haydock, the two-year-old left no doubts about his versatility, transferring his impressive all-weather form to good ground on his Group bow. The eventual winner held off Hugo Palmer's Flaming Rib to prevail by a neck.
"I wasn't concerned about the ground but he's had to go and prove it in that class," Burke said.
"He's a very good horse and he's tough too. If you go back and watch the Good Friday race at Newcastle, we didn't want to be in-front or upsides and he's run with the choke out for three furlongs.
⭐️ El Caballo - what a hugely exciting prospect
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) May 21, 2022
He records a sixth straight win from seven starts with a brilliant display in the £115,000 G2 Cazoo Sandy Lane Stakes for @karl_burke & @CliffordleexLee at @haydockraces pic.twitter.com/AEOGle8sRK
"That's a hard thing to do and carry on and quicken again like he did that day, so we knew that with a lead and relaxing early -we've seen it at home - that he'd pick up and he'd really bounce home."
Next on the agenda for El Caballo is Royal Ascot, with the three-year-old now a 7/1 shot for the Commonwealth Cup.
"It'll probably be different ground at Ascot but as long as it's not rattling, I'd be happy," added Burke.
"I said this morning that whatever wins this race today will certainly be one of the favourites for Ascot."
