TROUBLED but talented four-year bay gelding El Profesor’s victory over a decent field of fellow four-year-olds on Wednesday, January 23 left owner/breeder Clinton Rhoden lost for words to express the joy that he was feeling at the time.

“Words cannot explain. You can look on my face and see the pleasure and satisfaction that resides in me from this victory,” Rhoden said.

“I can tell you, we were under a cloud with this horse and this win has brought a lot of joy. It is just a joy as Trevor (Simpson) is one of my favourite riders and to have him ride El Profesor and win is a blessing in disguise because I have not seen him in a while, because I am here and there and everywhere, and now Trevor is here to ride him ( El Profesor) and win.

“I would also like to thank trainer Patrick Lynch for doing a fine job of taking this horse from under the cloud. He has done a great job,” Rhoden pointed out.

As a three-year-old, El Professor was among several bright prospects who were expected to do well in the three-year-old Classics. He opened by winning his maiden race when accounting for Reggae Road and Western Legend while pressing the pace for an eye-opening victory over 1,300 metres in a time of 1:20.0.

Now showing the early positive signs of a potential Classic aspirant, the Casual Trick bay, son of the Spacelink dam The Principal, then returned in his next race to contest the Prince Consort Stakes. To show that his opening salvo was not a fluke, he proceeded to dismiss a competitive challenge from two other bright prospects in Another Vigorous and Western Legend with a strong rallying effort to win by a head in a smart 1:26.0 for 1,400.

Next stop was the 2000 Guineas for colts and geldings and atop was the then 2.0 kg claiming apprentice Anthony Thomas, who rode El Professor to victory in his two opening races. El Profesor finished fifth in the Guineas.

Since then, El Professor has never been the same until on Wednesday (January 23) when he returned to winning ways over five furlongs round clocking a decent 59.2 seconds. Axle Rod ridden by Simon Husbands was second while the 97-1 shot, It’s A Rap ridden by Harriston Lewis finished third.