Stephen Marsh has given the high flying El Vencedor the nod as his best chance of landing a winning blow at Ellerslie on Saturday.
The Cambridge trainer is well-represented in the Champions’ Day features but finds it hard to go past the in-form son of Shocking in his bid to add the Gr.1 Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes (2000m) to his record.
El Vencedor is chasing his third top-flight title on the bounce following successes in the Gr.1 Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m) and the Gr.1 Otaki-Maori WFA Classic (1600m).
“I think he’s our best the way he’s been going, he loves Ellerslie and back to 2000m, I can’t see any negatives,” Marsh said.
“He’s got barrier four as well and that’s probably the perfect gate.”
El Vencedor, who will head to Hong Kong next month to contest the Gr.1 FWD QEII Cup (2000m) at Sha Tin, is set to have a big payday on Saturday no matter the outcome, with the gelding having an unassailable lead in the Rich Hill Champion Middle Distance Series going into the final race of the series this weekend.
The six-year-old currently leads the series on 17 points, and with the winner of the Bonecrusher set to accrue seven points, and his nearest rival on Saturday being eight points adrift, the connections of El Vencedor will take home the $300,000 bonus for winning the series. Race rivals La Crique, Orchestral and Qali Al Farrasha will battle out the minor placings, with the trio having to usurp second-placed Snazzytavi to take home the runner-up bonus of $150,000, with $50,000 going to third place.
While pleased with El Vencedor’s draw (4), Marsh can’t say the same for Tale Of The Gypsy and To Cap It All, who will jump from gates nine and eight respectively in the Gr.1 Sistema Stakes (1200m).
“It’s just a shame they’ve both drawn wide and Tale Of The Gypsy hasn’t been able to get a good gate all her life,” Marsh said.
The Written By filly has won once from three starts, having drawn the outside barrier on each occasion, while To Cap It All was a debut winner before finishing runner-up in the Gr.2 Matamata Breeders’ Stakes (1200m).
“She’s going well and they are both deserving of a crack at a Group One,” Marsh said.
The stable will chase further elite level honours with Bourbon Proof and Kiwi Skyhawk in the Gr.1 Trackside New Zealand Derby (2400m) and Provence and Merchant Queen to contest the Gr.1 HKJC World Pool NZ Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m).
Bourbon Proof has finished runner-up in both the Gr.2 Waikato Guineas (2000m) and the Gr.2 Avondale Guineas (2100m).
“He doesn’t need to improve much to be in the thick of it, his last two runs have been great,” Marsh said.
“I’m really happy with him and he maps well from a good gate (three) and Kiwi Skyhawk wasn’t suited by the slow tempo in the Avondale Guineas.
“If it’s a genuinely run Derby, it will bring him right into it.”
Provence will look to turn her fortunes around in the Breeders’ Stakes after a luckless run in the Listed Champagne Stakes (1400m) while Merchant Queen was a last-start third in the Listed Fulton Family Stakes (1500m).
“Provence is a very good mare and has drawn out a bit at 11. She’s going really well but will need a bit of luck taking on Legarto,” Marsh said.
“It’s a throw at the stumps for Merchant Queen, but she does love Ellerslie and will jump and put herself up on the speed and deserves her chance.”
Marsh also has two live hopes in the inaugural running of the $3.5 million NZB Kiwi (1500m) with the in-form Penman and Ardalio, winner two starts back of the Gr.3 Almanzor Trophy (1200m) before she was sixth in the Champagne.
“Penman’s just a horse that has kept improving all the time and his work has been terrific,” Marsh said.
“Ardalio was great last time when they went slowly, she got a long way back and was good to the line. I think she’s the forgotten horse to be honest.”
Meanwhile, Marsh is hoping a changed approach leading into the Gr.2 Barfoot & Thompson Auckland Cup (3200m) will bring out the best in Nest Egg, who hasn’t raced since third in the Gr.3 Wellington Cup (3200m).
“We’re trying something different with him and didn’t run him in the Avondale Cup (Gr.3, 2400m),” he said. “We’ve had him at the beach, he’s done some schooling and has worked well.”
Wide gates will make it tough for Tardelli (15) and She’s Untouchable (12) when they round off the day in the Windsor Park Stud 3YO Trophy (1500m) with the former rated the top seed.
“Tardelli has been going really well, his run for third in the Uncle Remus (Listed, 1400m) was super. He just needs some luck,” Marsh said.
