G3 Wellington Cup winner for Shocking

Media Release - Saturday January 29

Cambridge trainer Stephen Marsh registered a notable milestone when he saddled the quinella in the Gr.3 NZ Campus of Innovation & Sport Wellington Cup (3200m) with Lincoln King and Starrybeel.

Marsh went into the race with a degree of confidence following the midweek scratching of pre-post favourite and last year’s winner Waisake and that confidence proved well-founded.

Craig Grylls is all smiles after his win aboard Lincoln King Photo Credit: Race Images – Peter Rubery

Seven-year-old gelding Lincoln King, a proven two-mile performer having finished second in the 2020 Gr.3 New Zealand Cup (3200m) and fourth behind Mondorani in the 2021 edition of that race, looked the best chance on paper of the two Marsh runners and so it proved.

In the hands of an in-form Craig Grylls, Lincoln King enjoyed a perfect run midfield, but found himself in an awkward position with 800m to run as a number of back-markers looped around him as the field compressed.

Grylls extricated Lincoln King from a tight position and moved him to the outer before unleashing the son of Shocking as he quickly bounded up to the leaders in the straight before forging to the lead.

Stablemate Starrybeel and rider Michael McNab came from well-back to finish second and was forced to weave a passage after a minor bump with Lincoln King, with pacemaker He No Opilio clinging on to third from southern raider Sulu Sea.

Marsh, who has an ownership interest in both runners, was trying to keep his emotions in check as he savoured the result.

“It doesn’t get much better than that and I own a little share in both of them so that helps as well,” he said.

“I thought going out of the straight the first time they were both in a beautiful position, just where we wanted them.

“I could see Michael riding pretty confidently aboard Starrybeel and I got a bit worried about Lincoln King, but it has just turned out terrific.

“Lincoln King has been pretty luckless in two New Zealand Cups, so it is great to see him here and to get that win.

“They have both raced out of their skins and I’m just so pleased for everyone, including my staff as I can see that they have got a huge buzz out of this.

Advertisement

“It’s a big team effort and just great when you can pull it off.”

Marsh will take a little time to assess how the pair recover from their exertions before making any plans, however both horses hold a nomination for the Gr.2 Barfoot & Thompson Auckland Cup (3200m) at Ellerslie in March.

“We’ll get them home and see how they are before we decide what to do next,” he said.

“There is the Auckland Cup to come and Lincoln King has been there and done that (9th in 2021), while Starrybeel looks like a real star stayer on the rise.”

It was the second feature race victory for Grylls on the day having earlier taken out the Gr.3 New Zealand Bloodstock Desert Gold Stakes (1600m) aboard La Crique.

“Steve said to me before the race to try and get him out and keep him a bit handier in the running,” he said.

“After 150m I was a couple of pairs back and I thought this is just beautiful.

“At about the half mile there were a couple that got going and I got shuffled back, but I got him to the outside where he just kept grinding away as a proven two-miler.

“He was made to work for it, but it was definitely worth it.”

Shocking

The 17th stakes-winner for Rich Hill Stud's Shocking, Lincoln King, who is raced by a group that includes his breeder, Bill Gleeson under his Wellfield Holdings Ltd banner, is out of the stakes winning Shinko King mare, Shi Kin Fly and has won six races from 31 starts and over $330,000 in prizemoney. – NZ Racing Desk

Advertisment

Race Result - Wellington Cup Gr3 3200m

Trentham Track: Dead(4) Time: 3:23.21
1
Lincoln King
- 7g Shocking (AUS) x Shi Kin Fly (NZ) (Shinko King (IRE))
Tnr: S B Marsh Rdr: C J Grylls 56
2
0.3
Starrybeel
- 7g Savabeel (AUS) x Starry (NZ) (O'Reilly (NZ))
Tnr: S B Marsh Rdr: M J Mc Nab 55.5
3
0.8
He No Opilio
- 7g Zed (NZ) x Pentavale (NZ) (Pentire (GB))
Tnr: Chris Rauhihi Rdr: S R Weatherley 54
4
0.9
Sulu Sea
- 6m Sweet Orange (USA) x Amanpulo (NZ) (Duelled (AUS))
Tnr: D Champion & K Murphy Rdr: D G Bradley 54
5
1.1
Uareastar
- 5m Jakkalberry (IRE) x Enchanteress (NZ) (Danehill (USA))
Tnr: F J Auret Rdr: M Cameron 54
6
2.1
Because
- 6g Savabeel (AUS) x Rosie's Cause (AUS) (Giant's Causeway (USA))
Tnr: R R Manning Rdr: A C Goindasamy 54
7
2.3
Skyphyta
- 7g Pierro (AUS) x Stellaphyta (NZ) (High Chaparral (IRE))
Tnr: P M Goodwin Rdr: M K Hudson 54.5
8
3.8
Mondorani
- 7g Burgundy (NZ) x Del Mondo (USA) (More Than Ready (USA))
Tnr: K T Myers Rdr: S J Macnab 56
9
3.9
Platinum Spirit
- 5g Charm Spirit (IRE) x Mia Le Fay (NZ) (Zabeel (NZ))
Tnr: Ms L Latta Rdr: T Yanagida 54
10
4.9
Notabadharada
- 6g Haradasun (AUS) x Alicia Markova (NZ) (Entrepreneur (GB))
Tnr: C T Faulkner Rdr: D J Danis 54
11
5.0
That's Incranibull
- 6g Cape Blanco (IRE) x Polyantha (AUS) (Encosta De Lago (AUS))
Tnr: Emma Davies Rdr: R J Hannam 54
12
6.8
Firoden
- 6g Denman (AUS) x Firostefani (AUS) (Stratum (AUS))
Tnr: L A Beck Rdr: L T Hemi 54.5
13
8.3
Bluey's Chance
- 8g Remind (USA) x Opera Dancer (AUS) (Rigoletto (AUS))
Tnr: Kennedy Moore Rdr: J Kamaruddin 54
14
12.1
Master Fin
- 10g Nom Du Jeu (NZ) x Cloverlee (NZ) (Traditionally (USA))
Tnr: M K Oulaghan Rdr: C Dell 54.5
15
29.6
Rose Of Delgatie
- 5m Darci Brahma (NZ) x Highland Rose (NZ) (High Chaparral (IRE))
Tnr: F J Auret Rdr: M Mudhoo 54
16
55.1
Marietta Lane
- 7m Zed (NZ) x Crichele (NZ) (Lord Ballina (AUS))
Tnr: F J Auret Rdr: W F Pinn 57
More Reading...
Magic Trials at Caulfield Heath
Early season two-year-olds will step out this Thursday, 2 October, at the Caulfield Spring Trials presented by Magic Millions, with 800m 2YO heats following the opening trial for Group performers at 7:30am on the Caulfield Heath.
New SW Wrote - Fast Network Wins G3 National Day Cup
Trainer Dennis Yip claimed a timely first win of the 2025/26 season, taking out the feature HK$4.2 million Gr.3 National Day Cup Handicap (1000m) at Sha Tin’s National Day fixture on Wednesday when his stable star Fast Network, a New Zealand bred son of Wrote, blitzed a strong field under Alexis Badel.
NZ Derby Hero Willydoit Primed for Epsom
Last season’s New Zealand Derby hero Willydoit will step back into the spotlight on Saturday when he contests the Gr.1 Epsom Handicap (1600m) at Randwick for trainer Ciaron Maher, with jockey Tommy Berry bullish the horse is ready to make his mark over the famous mile.
One to Watch – Geelong
Trilogy Racing will have high hopes for the their talented filly Queen of Clubs in the Group I ATC Flight Stakes on Saturday and their colours were in the frame at Geelong on Thursday carried by a Zoustar filly that saluted on debut.
Melody Belle Daughter Set for Long Awaited Debut
It will be a full-circle moment for Te Akau Racing at The Valley on Friday night when Lyrics ‘N’ Song, a daughter of their former multiple Group One winner Melody Belle, makes her debut.
Autumn Glow Epsom Challenge - Just How Big Is This Task?
With the unbeaten Autumn Glow set to run as the first odds-on favourite this century in the Epsom Handicap on Saturday we thought we’d run some data to see how big this mountain is that she’s attempting to climb, and turns out, it’s pretty big.
Swettenham Stud Delighted with Lofty Strike Foals
Swettenham Stud are delighted with the growing buzz of excitement surrounding the first foals for young gun sire Lofty Strike.
Juvenile Trial Watch – Caulfield
Three barrier trials at Caulfield on Thursday morning produced heat winners for first season sires Wild Ruler and Profiteer with the quickest winner being Free Flying, the half-sister by Snitzel to brilliant Group winning mare Learning to Fly.
Generation Foals Built for Speed
Victorian farm Lovatsville offer a diverse stallion roster for this spring geared to satisfy a wide spectrum of breeder ambitions and if explosive Aussie speed is your thing then Snitzel stallion Generation will fit the bill.
Sires With Winners - Thursday October 2
Here is the full list of 29 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.