Trainer Ed Vaughan believes that Si Senor can progress into another high-class All-Weather performer for popular owner and keen All-Weather supporter Alan Pickering, CBE.
Bred and formerly owned by Anthony Oppenheimer, Si Senor made a winning debut for Pickering in a mile handicap sponsored by Ladbrokes on January 30 and is set to return to Lingfield Park for the £19,000 Ladbrokes Handicap (3.45pm) over the same distance this Saturday, February 13. Newmarket-based Vaughan said: "Si Senor has come out of his last race in great form and plan is to go back to Lingfield on Saturday. "I was pleased enough with his performance. He was a bit disappointing last year and never really hit the heights I thought he would, although he did have one or two little issues through the season. "I think he is better for the short break he had and he does love the All-Weather. He likes consistency under his feet and is one who would not like patchy ground or an undulating track." Although he has a bit to find on ratings, the five-year-old son of Dansili is among 24 confirmations for the £100,000 Group Three Coral Winter Derby at Lingfield Park on Saturday, February 27. Vaughan and Pickering took the 10-furlong highlight in 2014 with All-Weather specialist Robin Hoods Bay (pictured), who was retired later that year after sustaining an injury. The trainer continued: "We have left Si Senor in the Coral Winter Derby and, although I'll leave the decision to Alan, it is something we are looking at. "I think the 10 furlongs might stretch him but you never know until you try. I'd say a mile is his trip because he travels well and picks up. "He was going home nicely the last day but did not look like a horse crying out for a step up in trip. The Winter Derby is a good pot though and his run at the weekend should tell us more. "Even early on, I always thought Si Senor had plenty of ability and I train him very similarly to Robin Hoods Bay. "I want horses to improve away with each run and I always try to leave a bit in the locker. Si Senor shows just as much in his work as Robin Hoods Bay and it would be great if he can continue to climb the ladder. "Alan is a fantastic owner and I am really chuffed for him because he takes the good with the bad and has been a great supporter of mine. We have never had a cross word and he is a great person to train for." Pickering is vice-president of the Racehorse Owners Association. Godolphin's Festive Fare (Charlie Appleby, 9/2 with Coral) retains his position at the top of the Coral Winter Derby betting despite going down by a half-length to Grendisar (Marco Botti, 5/1) in the Listed coral.co.uk Winter Derby Trial on February 6. Other eye-catching confirmations include Group Two Godolphin Mile runner-up Sloane Avenue (Jeremy Noseda, 5/1) and Furia Cruzada (John Gosden, 12/1), a dual Group One scorer in South America. Coral Winter Derby - Coral prices: 9/2 Festive Fare; 5/1 Grendisar, Sloane Avenue; 8/1 Battalion; 10/1 Tullius; 12/1 Furia Cruzada; 16/1 Energia Davos, Captain Cat, Fire Fighting, Our Channel, Moheet; 20/1 Calling Out, Maverick Wave; 25/1 Complicit, Watersmeet; 33 Bar The Coral Winter Derby is a Fast-Track Qualifier for the £200,000 Coral Easter Classic over the same course and distance on All-Weather Championships Finals Day, Good Friday, March 25.
