The despised outsider of the field, rising 7yo gelding Mongolian Marshal, finished determinedly to claim Saturday’s $160,000 Listed Seppelt Wines Winter Championship (1600m) at Flemington.
Ridden by Brett Prebble for Morphettville-based trainer Stuart Gower, the son of High Chaparral did best in a driving finish to defeat Furrion (GB) (Camelot) by three-quarter of a length with Biometric (GB) (Bated Breath) a long-neck back in third.
Successful over the course and distance on May 22, Mongolian Marshal was coming off a third on a heavy track at Sandown.
“He’s a little beauty. Last start it was just a bit too wet for him - he couldn’t get a foot in a kept dipping and diving,” Prebble said.
“He showed that good turn of foot today. He got to them quick, but I was mindful that when I got to the front on him last time it was a long 300m.
“I bided my time and he had a fair bit left. He is peaking so should not have been a 40/1 chance.
“Credit to Stuey for getting him back to this form.”
Initially trained in New Zealand by Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman, Mongolian Marshal won the Group III Waikato Gold Cup in 2018. He made a trip to Australia at three, finishing fourth in the Group II Tulloch Stakes and eighth in the Group 1 ATC Australian Derby, both won by Lavendi.
Transferred to Gower in February last year, Mongolian Marshal won the Kyneton Cup last November, which was his first win since the Waikato Gold Cup.
Bred by Sir Patrick and Lady Hogan, the son of High Chaparral (IRE) was sold for $50,000 at the 2020 Inglis December Online Sale.
He had been a $220,000 purchase by Rider Horse NZ from the Cambridge Stud draft at the 2016 NZB Premier Yearling Sale.
From the revered Eight Carat family, Mongolian Marshal advances his record to eight wins, four seconds, and six thirds from 39 starts with earnings of 316,775.
A three-quarter brother to the Group II VRC Blazer Stakes winner and Group 1 Vinery Stud Stakes third Forever Love, Mongolian Marshal is the best of two winners from four to race out of the stakes-placed Dehere (USA) mare Ardeche.
Ardeche is out of the Listed winner and Group 1-placed Diamond Like (Danehill), a sister to Viking Ruler and Kempinsky.
Ardeche has a yearling filly by Zoustar. After missing to Savabeel in 2018, she was covered by Dundeel last spring and will visit Almanzor this year.
