Driver Jason Lee’s cool hands helped El Paco overcome a standing start blunder to break through and win a first country trotters cup in two years.
The Yankee Paco eight-year-old came from last to first to win the Avoca-Maryborough Community Bank Branches Maryborough Trotters Cup, a satisfying result for trainer Matt Craven, who’s had the trotter in his care since August.
Having long raced for Kyneton trainer Joe Attard, including capturing the Wangaratta, Ararat and Kilmore cups in 2014, El Paco carved out a second win in Craven’s Terang stable from nine starts.
Yesterday’s result was particularly sweet given El Paco saluted despite a messy start off the 10m handicap, falling about 50m behind.
“He was not too good after the start,” Craven said. “Speaking to Jason, he thinks El Paco got a little fright and must have panicked a little bit and was flat-footed when they let him go.
“He missed it by a long way, but to Jason’s credit he didn’t panic and just tacked up as they backed off the tempo, and he was able to slide up into the death in a cruisey middle half.”
An 86.5-second lead time and modest first (32.8) and second (32.5) quarters enabled Lee to chomp up lost ground and still have plenty of gas in the tank.
Leader The Boss Man pressed on in a 28.5 third quarter and come the back straight the swoopers begin to pour on the pressure, with the first five finishing within 2.5m but it was El Paco who stuck his neck out.
“His run outside the leader was pretty solid and to the horse’s credit he really stuck his head out when they were coming on the outside,” Craven said.
“He will get another 10m (penalty) next time he goes out, but to get a couple of wins out of him and have him win a cup for the first time in a couple of years was very pleasing.”
The victory will only boost spirits at the Terang stable, with El Paco leased by Craven’s mum Helen, who Matt said was “there every day making sure the horses are well spoilt”, and his brother Simon.
And the fun may just be beginning, with El Paco likely to next head to the Yarra Valley to contest their trotters cup on Oaks Day (Thursday, November 3).
“We will have a look at the nominations for the (Derby Royal Trotters) free for all (at Tabcorp Park Melton on Saturday), but most likely he will go to the Yarra Valley,” Craven said.
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