Wachman Targets El Fuego At Stan James 2000 Guineas

David Wachman has confirmed that El Fuego is in top shape and on course to contest the Stan James 2000 Guineas at Newmarket on Saturday, May 6.

The Fusaichi Pegasus colt won his only start in a Fairyhouse maiden last August, when a well-backed favourite for Kieren Fallon, and is currently quoted a 40/1 chance by the sponsor for the big race.

Wachman revealed this morning: 'I´m very happy with El Fuego - he´s wintered well. The plan at present is to go for the Stan James 2000 Guineas but I´ll have to speak to the owners (Derrick Smith, Sue Magnier and Michael Tabor) and see what they want to do closer to the race.

'He wants good ground so that would be all important in deciding whether or not he has a prep race first. I wouldn´t mind going straight to Newmarket but the ground is the key - if it´s good he´ll get a run first, if not then he won´t,' the trainer explained.

'We have a better chance of getting decent ground in England, so that would be more realistic - something like the Unicorn Asset Management Craven Stakes or the Greenham could be on the agenda, but we´ll see.'

El Fuego would be Wachman´s first ever runner in the Stan James 2000 Guineas, although the trainer is no stranger to success on these shores, having already landed big prizes in the past few years with Indesatchel, Fracas and Damson.

'Indesatchel did well for us last year and won the Greenham - at this stage I would say that El Fuego compares favourably with Indesatchel,' Wachman commented.

'He has very little experience, having only had one run, and I´m not sure about the form, but time will tell how good he is.'

Unicorn Asset Management are the new sponsors of the feature race at the Craven Meeting, Newmarket´s first fixture of the new season on the NatWest Rowley Mile, which runs for three days starting on Tuesday, April 18.

The #50,000 Unicorn Asset Management Craven Stakes (Group 3), on Thursday April 20, is one of the key trials for the Stan James 2000 Guineas, which takes place over the same course and distance two and a half weeks later.

Both races were won two years ago by the Barry Hills-trained Haafhd. Unicorn, who began their racing sponsorship at Lingfield, will also be supporting six of the seven races at the NatWest Rowley Mile on Friday, May 26, and entertaining many key clients at the ´Course of Champions´ on both days.

Newmarket´s Managing Director, Lisa Hancock, said today: 'We are delighted to welcome Unicorn Asset Management to the NatWest Rowley Mile, yet another new sponsor that we have attracted here in recent years.

'The Unicorn Asset Management Craven Stakes is an historic classic trial, first run in 1878, and we hope to attract some of the leading Stan James 2000 Guineas contenders for it this year.'

Peter Webb, Chief Executive of Unicorn, commented: 'Unicorn are delighted to be supporting Newmarket Racecourses, the home of racing in the UK. Our sponsorship of these two meetings complements our support of The National Stud.

'We are delighted to be contributing to a sport which gives so much enjoyment and pleasure to so many people.'