El Gordo returns to scale after winning the 1966 AJC Derby.
Here’s an oldie! Fifty two years old to be precise. El Gordo spooks at somebody in the 45,000 strong crowd at Randwick as he returns to scale after winning the 1966 AJC Derby
El Gordo (6/1) was ridden by popular jockey Neil Campton and led throughout to beat the 9/4 fav Garcon (A.Mulley), with 16/1 pop Mystic Glen (K.Langby) in third place.
The winner was owned by Brazilian born R.P. De Lasala, who had shipping and commercial business interests in Australia. The colourful owner produced a cigar in the mounting enclosure after the race, which George Burns or Edward G. Robinson would have killed for.
El Gordo was trained by “Silent” Leo O’Sullivan, who was still training horses at Randwick in his 85th year. Leo’s nickname was derived from his lifelong habit of divulging nothing about the chances of his horses.
Neil Campton rode in Sydney for thirty years and added several more Group 1 wins to his CV, including the 1968 Golden Slipper on Royal Parma.
He had a tough ride on El Gordo, who pulled the bit right through his mouth in the middle stages of the classic. Campton was able to navigate him under great difficulty, to win the Derby.
Note the position of the bit, as the colt comes back into the enclosure.