North Eastern Districts Cup win for El Casanova

El Casanova (Terror To Love) showed his class on Sunday at the Central Wheatbelt Harness Racing Club when taking out the TABTouch North Eastern Districts Cup Pace (2130m) for Garry Sayers and Shannon Suvaljko.

Backing up from his dominating win the week earlier at Northam, the five-year-old brought up his seventh win in just 10 starts, with connections hopeful he can continue to stand up.

“It was pretty special,

“Just knowing what he’s been through and just to see him put away a field, put them away like that, it’s very special. “Owner Mick Pike said.

With leg issues putting his career on hold three times already, Mick and Lyn Pike are aware that El Casanova’s racing career is a day-to-day proposition, but after speaking with Garry Sayers this morning, Mick has confirmed that he has pulled up well after yesterday’s win.

Purchasing ‘Pete’ as he’s known around the stables from New Zealand as a two-year-old, Pike never doubted his then colt’s ability, making mention that he was sold on the purchase after his second trial when he ran his last quarter in around 25 seconds.

EL CASANOVA REPLAY

When asked why the pair have persevered and pushed on with the now gelding, Mick Pike replied:

“I knew basically that there was so much talent there,

“I just thought this would probably be my last attempt with him.”

El Casanova NZ started his Western Australian career in the care of Robbie Williams where he had three starts before injury struck the then two-year-old. He resumed a year later in the care of Michael Grantham, having five starts for four wins, before connections were faced with the same leg weary, eventually moving to the stables of Garry Sayers after another round of extensive Stem Cell therapy to the injured leg.

“Obviously taking him to Garry, Garry and I have been mates for years and years, I originated from Kalgoorlie, but just knowing Garry would put in all that extra time into the leg,

“I rang around, and I got the recommendation to do the stem cell therapy, but I think I rushed him back a little too quick and obviously he went again,

“So I left him a little bit longer,  and because he was working in the heavy sand,  I don’t know if that contributed to it a little bit I don’t know, but then sending him up to Garry in Northam and getting on the harder ground, it was actually Michael Grantham that recommended I send him up to Garry and put him on the harder ground, so obviously that has had a lot of plus’.”

A head turner in the flesh, the decision to geld the once stallion was a hard one for Mick Pike, but one he’s yet to regret.

“he’s just a beautiful horse,

“When I did the last stem cell, which was the third one, at the same time I got him gelded just to counteract putting any more beef and bulking out any more, I was trying to keep him lighter,

“I didn’t really ever want to geld him because he’s just such a beautiful looking animal, but I ended up making that decision, and at the moment I haven’t regretted it.”

Speaking with Garry Sayers, El Casanova NZ is likely to head to Gloucester Park next Friday night, September 22.

For complete race results, click here.

by Ashleigh Paikos, for RWWA