Estadio Mestalla produces shock win in Winter Stakes after early campaign woes

A switched on Estadio Mestalla defied his rivals to lead all the way and claim an upset win in the Winter Stakes at Rosehill.

Dylan Gibbons and Estadio Mestalla lead all-the-way to win the Winter Stakes at Rosehill. Picture: Getty Images

Trainer Joe Pride sensed rank outsider Estadio Mestalla was back on his game from the sprinter’s mannerisms before his race at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.

“I couldn’t understand Estadio Mestalla’s two average runs to start this campaign because he’s a very genuine horse, he hasn’t got a poor run in him,’’ Pride said.

“I have been telling the jockeys, ‘watch him going to the gates because he’ll pull and be a bit ferocious’ but at his first two runs back he has gone around to the start like a kid’s pony.

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“Today, he took off a bit on the rider and I thought, ‘this is better’.’’

Estadio Mestalla’s jockey Dylan Gibbons, who rode a winning treble at the Rosehill meeting, was very aware of Pride’s advice before the Listed $200,000 Winter Stakes (1400m).

“I noticed Estadio Mestalla had the spark in him going to the gates today,’’ said Gibbons, who also won on the impressive Brave One and Good Banter.

“I thought we were going to see a good performance from the horse and with his ‘million’ owners, I didn’t want to be the most hated man at Rosehill so I had to get him home.

“The horse had no weight, Joe looked like he had him primed for today and I rode him accordingly. It was a tough effort.”

Estadio Mestalla, a $61 bolter, began well from his wide barrier, eventually worked his way to the early lead and was never headed to score by 1½ lengths from Robusto ($13) with another Pride-trained galloper, Accredited ($5.50) a close third.

Whinchat was sent out the $4 favourite and was slow to begin but after 400m was able to settle outside Estadio Mestalla but was under pressure from the turn and faded to finish 12th.

Pride decided to add blinkers to Estadio Mestalla for the Winter Stakes and the rising seven-year-old was able to score a career-best win.

Estadio Mestalla is the star player in the Listed Winter Stakes and wins at big odds! ⚽️❄️

That's separate doubles to @PrideRacing and @djgibbons22 at Rosehill today! 🙌@aus_turf_clubpic.twitter.com/eWBClKpNP6

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) July 5, 2025

• Pride perplexed after sprinter Storms to another victory

“He is a very competitive horse. I know the market has forgotten about him today and for good reason, his two runs back have been plain,’’ Pride said.

“But if you go back to last preparation, he ran second in the Little Dance, second in a South Grafton Cup. He’s a good horse on his day and it’s just nice to see him return to that.

“I went a little bit early with the blinkers than what I normally would in a preparation but I felt like I had to do something and make a change.

“It was good to see the horse out there rolling along, he looked happy and comfortable and gave a really big kick. You wanted to be closer to the pace today, the track played a little bit like that.

“It was a great ride from Dylan to get him across and keep him interested and it’s a big result.”

Estadio Mestalla, purchased as a tried horse for $70,000, is raced by The Racing League’s NSW Tycoons Syndicate where owners have micro shares in a large team of horses.

Popular media Personality Terry Kennedy manages the NSW Tycoons and he had nothing but praise for the roles Pride and Gibbons played in turning around Estadio Mestalla’s form.

“Estadio Mestalla is ultra-consistent so that is why it was a bit of a mystery with his first two runs as that is not what we usually see from this horse,’’ Kennedy said.

It's @djgibbons22's world, we're just living in it 👑

A treble for the young star as Brave One makes it two on the trot, he's progressing nicely for Team Hawkes!@HawkesRacingpic.twitter.com/Dq2i6dnCta

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) July 5, 2025

• Parr continues hot form with Rosehill double

“It was a masterstroke from Joe to put the blinkers on today and Dylan rode it very well.

“Dylan didn’t just sit there three-wide with no cover, he decided to go to the front. He rode it a treat and the horse really wanted to win.

“This is up there with our biggest wins for the NSW Tycoons. Estadio just got beaten in The Little Dance last year so will try to qualify the horse for that Little Dance again and hopefully go one better this time.’’

But Pride has more immediate goals in mind for Estadio Mestalla now that the gelding is back in form, suggesting he will be back at Rosehill in two weeks for the final Sydney stakes race of the season, the Listed $200,000 Winter Challenge (1500m).

“Estadio Mestalla usually holds his form so now that he is back to his best, we will look at the Winter Challenge in two weeks,’’ Pride said.

“Accredited ran really well for third because he needs a firmer track. I’d say he will be back here for the Winter Challenge, too.’’

The final word to Kennedy who hopes the NSW Tycoons win is an omen for Game Three of rugby league’s State of Origin between NSW and Queensland at Accor Stadium on Wednesday night.

“I would like to think NSW and their coach Laurie Daley can win the Origin decider,’’ Kennedy said.

Originally published as Estadio Mestalla produces shock win in Winter Stakes after early campaign woes