Top-flight winner El Vencedor is in a happy place as he prepares to double his tally at the elite level.
Last season’s Gr.1 New Zealand Stakes (2000m) victor enjoyed a spin around Matamata on Tuesday and the son of Shocking romped home by six lengths in the hands of Rory Hutchings in a 1200m open trial.
“He had a lovely day out, he galloped beautifully and pulled up great,” trainer Stephen Marsh said.
“He’ll be at Ellerslie on February 1 for an open 1500m and then on to the Herbie Dyke Stakes (Gr.1, 2000m).
“He’s right back where we want him, he’s well and a very happy horse.”
El Vencedor won the Gr.3 Balmerino Stakes (2000m) in the spring but then tailed the field home in the Gr.1 Mufhasa Classic (1600m) before finishing a gallant third behind Snazzytavi and La Crique in the Gr.1 Zabeel Classic (2000m).
“He missed the jump at Trentham, did a bit of work and the track was a bit off, but it was a below par effort before he bounced back at Ellerslie,” Marsh said.
“It was basically catch me if you can and even Rory said the mares would have to be good to beat him, as it ended up they were good enough, but I still thought he was terrific.”
Stablemate and last-start Gr.2 Rich Hil Mile (1600m) winner Bourbon Empress also stretched her legs at the trials and finished runner-up over 1000m ahead of her next test in the $1 million Elsdon Park Aotearoa Classic (1600m) at Ellerslie.
“She’s a mare that keeps on improving and everything we do with her, she just keeps on getting better and better,” Marsh said.
Meanwhile, Nest Egg has mixed his form in the lead-up to Saturday’s Gr.3 NZ Campus of Innovation & Sport Wellington Cup (3200m) and hopes of a turnaround in fortunes have been boosted by the booking of Warren Kennedy.
“Not a lot has gone right, but Warren seems to be the man that has always got on well with him,” Marsh said.
“The horse’s work has been great, he went out to the beach on Monday and he’s well and happy. The track should be good, so he gets his chance to get back into form, but it has been a very in and out campaign.”
Also in action at Trentham will be the promising filly Bellarista in the Gr.3 New Zealand Bloodstock Desert Gold Stakes (1600m) and last-start winner Sinhaman in the Race With Te Akau Remutaka Classic (2100m).
“Bellarista hasn’t put a foot wrong and it’s an even field, she had her final piece of work this (Wednesday) morning and she’s hard to fault,” Marsh said.
“Sinhaman just loves getting over a bit of ground and he’s a nice, progressive horse.”
Marsh also has a big team engaged at Te Rapa on Thursday and believed Penman, runner-up in his only two starts, as one of his best chances when he steps out in the Waikato Draught Maiden (1400m).
“He’s going really well and he’s just going to need a bit of luck from the draw (11),” he said.
Marsh also reported former Champion Two-Year-Old Velocious was progressing well following a wind operation after she failed in two starts earlier this season.
“She’ll be jumping out on Friday and will head to the trials from there, she’s coming up very well,” he said.
Velocious won four of her six starts at two, including the Gr.1 Sistema (1200m) and the Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m). – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk
