Spring plans confirmed for Marsh’s star
New Zealand’s top-rated performer El Vencedor (NZ) (Shocking) will contest all three legs of the spring Triple Crown series.
Stephen Marsh’s four-time elite level winner is making pleasing progress toward his resuming run in the Gr.1 Proisir Plate (1400m) on September 6 at Ellerslie, where he will stretch his legs later this week.
“He will trial on Thursday over 1100m, it will be a quiet trial and then he’ll be ready to kick off,” the Cambridge trainer said.
“I thought he galloped brilliantly between races at Te Rapa and he pulled up extremely well.”
El Vencedor enjoyed a stellar season in 2024/25 with Group One victories in the Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m), Otaki-Maori WFA Classic (1600m) and New Zealand Stakes (2000m).
The son of Shocking also won the Gr.3 Balmerino Stakes (2000m) and Listed Fulton Family Stakes (1550m) before an unsuccessful trip to Hong Kong for the Gr.1 QEII Cup (2000m) at Sha Tin.
“In years gone by, he’s had long spells and this year he went to Hong Kong and then had to do the quarantine, and I think that’s helped us bring him up a bit quicker,” Marsh said.
“He’s still had that bit of residual fitness and he had a really good hit-out last Saturday.”
Wiremu Pinn guided El Vencedor to victories in the New Zealand Stakes and Otaki-Maori Classic and he will be aboard the seven-year-old on Thursday and in the Proisir Plate.
“The horse is going to take good improvement from the Proisir, but when he gets to the mile he will be starting to put his hand up and the Livamol is going to be where it’s all at for him,” Marsh said.
The Gr.1 Howden Insurance Mile (1600m) will be run at Te Rapa on September 27 and the closing leg of the series, the Gr.1 Livamol Classic (2040m) will be back at Ellerslie on October 18.
