Take two for well-bred Pfeiffer gelding after stuttering start

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By Neil Evans

October 15, 2025 — 5.00pm

After a two-start initiation that never went to plan, an untapped four-year-old is set to return with a bang at Thursday’s feature Hawkesbury meeting.

El Qasabi, a gelding in the David Pfeiffer stable at Warwick Farm, hasn’t started since a well-beaten third at this track as a three-year-old in mid-June after suffering early interference.

And two weeks prior he had disappointed owners and punters on debut at Goulburn after being backed from $2.80 into $2.15.

El Qasabi had tasted defeat by a combined nine lengths in just two starts, so connections put him out and quickly set about preparing for take two.

And that all arrives in a modest Maiden Plate over 1100m at Hawkesbury where he is likely to battle with rival Warwick Farm filly Sassy Abbey for early favouritism.

A stylish son of prolific Group 2-winning UK sire Calyx, El Qasabi gave more than a glimpse he can resume a different horse, winning the second of two progressive lead-up trials.

Speaking of pedigrees, there won’t be any better-bred runner anywhere in the country than four-year-old Format from the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott stable at Randwick.

Format is by unbeaten UK superstar Frankel, generally considered the finest galloper of his generation and beyond on the planet, and out of top-class sprinter Nechita who won three from only four starts, including the 2012 Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes over the Melbourne spring carnival.

And in third place behind Nechita that day was Shamexpress, the sire of now global sprint star and this Saturday’s raging Everest favourite Ka Ying Rising.

If bloodlines could talk Thursday’s moderate Benchmark 64 Hcp over 2000m at Hawkesbury would be over, but Format, second-up since autumn, is just one of a few strong chances in one of the more open races on the eight-race program.

Supplied by Racing NSW
Full form and race replays available at racingnsw.com.au