El Vencedor in pursuit of lucrative bonus

[Wandering Eyes]

El Vencedor (NZ) (Shocking) has been an unstoppable force at Ellerslie, and while there are looming targets at northern headquarters for the gelding, a lucrative bonus and prize money on offer at Te Rapa this weekend have lured his connections south. 

The Stephen Marsh-trained six-year-old will line-up in the $700,000 Gr.1 Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m) on Saturday where he will be chasing a share of the $500,000 on offer in the Rich Hill Champion Middle Distance Series. 

The son of Shocking currently sits in second place (seven points) on the leaderboard behind Snazzytavi (10 points), and with the in-form mare ruled out of Saturday’s contest and glamour mare Orchestral also not taking her place in the quality line-up, it opens a golden opportunity for El Vencedor to take control of the series as it heads into the business end of the competition. 

“It is a great series that is worth a lot of money, and he is going so well,” Marsh said. “The field has changed shape (with the withdrawal of Snazzytavi and Orchestral) in the last 48 hours, but it makes it a very open affair now.” 

El Vencedor heads into the weekend in good form, dominating his rivals in the Listed Fulton Family Stakes (1500m) at Ellerslie last weekend, extending his record to three wins from four starts at the Auckland venue, including victories in the Gr.1 Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes and Gr.3 Balmerino Stakes (2000m), and placing in the Gr.1 Zabeel Classic (2000m) on Boxing Day. 

The series will return to Ellerslie for the last two legs, the Gr.1 Sport Nation Otaki-Maori WFA Classic (1600m) and Gr.1 Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes (2000m), and a solid performance on Saturday will put El Vencedor in a good position to claim the lion’s share of the $500,000 bonus on offer. 

“It is a $700,000 race on Saturday, it is a great bonus, and we are going to get a good track,” Marsh said. “Once his fitness is up and rolling, he holds his fitness well and races well.” 

Stablemate Mercurial (NZ) (Burgundy) will also be chasing a $500,000 bonus, but this time in the Sport Nation Champion Sprint Series. The Group One winner is looking to recapture form this weekend in the highly anticipated $500,000 Gr.1 BCD Group Sprint (1400m), but Marsh is more hopeful than confident after drawing barrier 12. 

“We were really desperate for an inside gate so he got all favours, but he has drawn a wide gate which is going to make it very tough for him,” Marsh said. 

Stablemates Bourbon Proof and Andiamo (NZ) (Vadamos) will also be in search of black-type success in the Gr.2 Legacy Lodge Waikato Guineas (2000m) and Gr.2 David & Karyn Ellis Fillies Classic (2000m) respectively. 

Marsh is particularly upbeat about the chances of Bourbon Proof who heads into Saturday’s contest off the back of a pleasing fourth placing behind Damask Rose (NZ) (Savabeel) in the Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m). 

“I am really happy with him,” Marsh said. “Getting him up over ground is the real key. It is a bit of a sticky gate (9) to negotiate, but he is going great guns and any amount of luck he will be right in it.” 

Prior to Saturday’s feature meeting, Marsh will head to Tauranga with half a dozen runners on Friday, including last start Gr.2 Levin Classic (1400m) placegetter Tardelli and last start winner Penman in the Aerocool Developments (1400m). 

“They are two very good three-year-olds that are on their way to better races,” Marsh said. “It is a five-horse field, but I think they are two quite exciting horses.”

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