Tinkler has high hopes for El Floridita

It may have been Clive Cox’s Orthodox who stole the show in the Norfolk Stakes, but Nigel Tinkler is confident there will be more to come from shock 150-1 second El Floridita after the youngster exceeded expectations when finishing best of the rest.

The son of Havana Grey headed south on the back of a Redcar win that offered encouragement to the Malton handler, but nevertheless entered the stalls a three-figure price on his first start for new owner Kevin Dace who had stumped up £100,000 at the Goffs London Sale to snare a runner for the Royal meeting.

Although proving no match for the ultra-impressive winner, El Floridita announced his own arrival on the big stage when running on for second, with his trainer predicting more improvement to come and now targeting a trip to Goodwood next month.

Tinkler said: “We were very pleased and very happy. He has a fantastic attitude – he was asleep 40 minutes before the race and he was back asleep by 11pm Saturday night. He’s got the right constitution to continue doing well and he’s a lovely little horse.

“He won at Redcar in 57 seconds which is a very fast time and the clock doesn’t lie over short distances.

“We knew he had the speed and we thought he would be in the first seven or eight and knew he wouldn’t be tailed off, but we were just a little concerned about the track at Ascot as it’s quite stiff and he would prefer an easier course like Goodwood or York.

“Those tracks would probably suit him better and it’s encouraging for when those meetings come around later in the season.”

On upcoming plans, Tinkler added: “He’ll stay at five furlongs and he’ll head to Goodwood for the Molecomb as long as he’s OK.

“He’s quite small and he’s grown a lot over the last six weeks or so. I think he will continue to grow and we might have to be careful with him while he is growing, but if all goes to plan Goodwood will be next.”

In heading to Goodwood, El Floridita will have the chance to recreate the heroics of Acklam Express who starred at the meeting – albeit in nursery company – for Tinkler in 2020.

That season the Yorkshire-based handler also enjoyed notable juvenile success with Ubetabelieveit, who scooped Doncaster’s Flying Childers Stakes before finishing third to US speedball Golden Pal at the Breeders’ Cup.

The trainer is now hoping it is a case of history repeating as two new talented two-year-olds have crossed his path and while El Floridita has already advertised his big-race credentials, there are also high hopes for Ronson who was last seen finishing a short-head second in the Beverley Two Year Old Trophy.

Tinker added: “I think we’ll take Ronson to Sandown for the Dragon Stakes and he’s more likely to get six furlongs than El Floridita so could have other options as well. We’re very pleased with Ronson and think he is also a very good horse.”

He added: “In the Covid year we had Acklam Express and Ubetabelieveit and this year we’ve got two good ones again. Hopefully we are going to have a lot of fun with these two horses.

“It seems when we do get a good one we don’t get one at a time, we get two, although the trouble is then waiting three or four years to find the next ones!”