Marcelo Sueldo on Cahuel Win: “I believe he hasn’t reached his ceiling yet”
The trainer and jockey Gonzalo Borda reflected on the colt's victory in the Clásico Jockey Club de la Provincia de Buenos Aires (G3); the confidence shown in morning works, his physical evolution, and praise for the barn staff
LA PLATA.— There was plenty of confidence behind the leap. For Cahuel Win, making the jump from a winning debut over the mile to the 2000 meters of the Clásico Jockey Club de la Provincia de Buenos Aires (G3) meant tackling two stern tests at once: increased distance and graded company. For trainer Marcelo Sueldo and jockey Gonzalo Borda, it was time to confirm on the track what the colt had been promising in private. This Tuesday's answer left both with plenty of reasons to dream.
The Stud Che Mateo representative solved the second leg of La Plata's Triple Crown with authority, and shortly after crossing the wire, his jockey highlighted the manner in which he had rewarded their faith.
“I’m very happy. The colt was coming off a debut win at a mile and the trainer decided to stretch him out further. He was working extremely well; when they came after me late, he re-engaged and found another gear. He’s a horse who keeps showing us he’s the real deal, that he has immense quality and is guiding us along. Today he proved it on the track,” Borda expressed.
That ability to re-accelerate under pressure was one of the jockey's most intriguing observations. With just one previous race under his belt, the son of Gershwin still had plenty to learn and prove. However, a lack of seasoning did not prevent him from delivering a resounding performance in a top-level exam, taking a major step forward among a generation beginning to define its stayers.
Sueldo's comments later revealed the exact reasoning behind taking on such a bold challenge. Their confidence was firmly grounded in a workout against a barnmate whose race record provided a reliable yardstick.
“We’re fortunate to have a great barn of horses right now, with strong pedigrees and top-notch breeding, which makes everything much easier. Cahuel Win was coming into this in peak form; he had worked alongside El Pirata (Il Campione) and outgalloped him very easily. Since El Pirata was coming off a second-place finish in graded company, our expectations were very high,” the trainer explained.
That piece of information adds a new dimension to the decision to toss a one-time winner straight into a classic. El Pirata provided a proven form line against the local juvenile division, and that morning move showed that the chestnut colt was ready to take on the challenge. All that remained was to translate it to race day over an untested trip.
Beyond the victory itself, Sueldo focused on the physical development of his pupil. His evolution is ongoing, and as far as the trainer is concerned, what he has accomplished so far still leaves plenty of room for improvement.
“He weighed in today at 515 kilos, 15 more than in his previous start. A horse builds up through hard work, and I believe he hasn’t reached his ceiling yet. We had to run this race first, and now we’ll sit down with the owners to map out our next steps together, but he’s definitely a horse that belongs in graded stakes,” he asserted.
There was no immediate announcement regarding his next target, but rather a clear certainty about the status Cahuel Win earned with this performance: graded company is now his natural domain. Selecting his next target will come after discussions with the connections, backed by the satisfaction of having cleared a major hurdle that expands his horizons.
Amid the post-race analysis and future plans, Borda and Sueldo also paused to acknowledge the foundation supporting their daily success. Both made a point of praising the foreman, grooms, and the entire barn staff, sharing the credit for the victory and the outstanding season the stable is enjoying.
Behind the rising colt is a dedicated team guiding his path. Cahuel Win repaid that collective effort with a graded stakes victory and an inspiring outlook: that of a horse who answered a stern test with authority while his trainer feels he still has plenty more to offer.
