El Vencedor causes massive upset in Bonecrusher Stakes

Media Release - Saturday March 9

An inch-perfect front running ride by Irishman Joe Doyle paved the way for outsider El Vencedor to upset the applecart in the Group1 Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes (2000m) at Ellerslie. 

El Vencedor and Joe Doyle (image Kenton Wright (Race Images)

Despite a consistent form-line with a win and three placings along with a last-start fourth in the Gr.1 Otaki-Maori Weight For Age Classic (1600m), the five-year-old son of Shocking was overlooked by punters as he closed at $21 on the Fixed Odds market. 

All the smart money was on class four-year-old mare Legarto ($1.20) who had taken out the Gr.1 Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m) at her last start. Those investments looked well placed early in the piece as Ryan Elliot settled her beautifully in third as she stalked El Vencedor and Doyle, who set up a tidy pace in front. 

Approaching the home corner, it was evident that El Vencedor was travelling sweetly in his first start beyond 1600m, however Legarto had him in her sights as she switched off the rail and set out to bridge the three-length margin the leader had established with 300m to run. 

Despite making ground steadily, Legarto couldn’t pull back El Vencedor who kicked strongly for Doyle and powered to the line to win by half a length with Ladies Man finishing resolutely for third, albeit four lengths in arrears of the first two. 

Trainer Stephen Marsh, who had two races earlier taken out the Gr.1 Sistema Stakes (1200m) with Velocious, was a little lost for words as he contemplated what his charge had just achieved. 

“Legarto is such a great mare and you never take her cheaply, but I loved the way he got to the front under a bit of pressure then got a couple of cheap sectionals,” Marsh said. 

“He was galloping beautifully in front and coming into the straight I saw Legarto come off the bridle just as we were starting to climb into it. 

“I thought geez we could be a chance here, and he kicked well and galloped nice and true which was beautiful to see. 

“He has got better and better with each run, and this is great for his breeders and owners Mark Freeman and David Price as they own the mare, and it is just awesome all around. 

“Two Group Ones in a day is just surreal.” 

Advertisement

Doyle wore a massive smile as he accepted congratulations for his performance on the brave winner.  

“That is just fantastic, and this is a race with a lot of history,” he said. 

“Stephen’s horse (El Vencedor) was so tenacious, and I’m absolutely thrilled. 

“We agreed before the race that the only chance we had was if we could get relaxed in front, so I let him slide forward and when we hit the rise, I let him fill his lungs and he was as tough as anything and got me home.” 

Freeman and Price bred the gelding from their O’Reilly mare Strictly Maternal and he is the younger brother of their Gr.2 Brisbane Cup (2200m) winner Chocante, while he is also a half-brother to Hong Kong Derby winner Sky Darci.  

The win took his career earnings beyond the $636,000 mark with seven wins and thirteen placings from 31 starts. 

Runner-up Legarto also significantly boosted her career earnings with the runner-up cheque of $83,250, added to a whopping $500,000 bonus as the inaugural winner of the $650,000 summer series that was introduced this year by Entain Australia and New Zealand in association with New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing. 

The series ran across four races between January and March, rewarding the series winner with a $500,000 bonus for accumulating the most points from contesting either the Gr.1 Thorndon Mile (1600m) at Trentham on January 20, or $1 million Aotearoa Classic (1600m) at Ellerslie on January 27. 

Having finished runner-up in the Aotearoa Classic before taking out the third leg of the series, the Gr.1 Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m) at Te Rapa last month, Legarto went into the decider as a clear series leader with 20.5 points and her runner-up finish saw her collect the lion’s share of a much sought after prize. 

LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

Advertisment

Race Result - Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes Gr1 2000m

Ellerslie Track: Good(4) Time: 2:03.90
1
El Vencedor
- 5g Shocking (AUS) x Strictly Maternal (NZ) (O'reilly (NZ))
Tnr: S B Marsh Rdr: Joe Doyle 59
2
0.3
Legarto
- 4m Proisir (AUS) x Geordie Girl (NZ) (Towkay (AUS))
Tnr: K & B Kelso Rdr: R T Elliot 57
3
5.8
Ladies Man
- 6g Zed (NZ) x Just Polite (AUS) (Dehere (USA))
Tnr: S A Sharrock Rdr: M J Mc Nab 59
4
6.2
Skyman
- 8g Mukhadram (GB) x Skyrider (IRE) (Dalakhani (IRE))
Tnr: S B Marsh Rdr: S C Spratt 59
5
6.3
Aquacade
- 5m Dundeel (NZ) x Forest Of Seas (IRE) (Sea The Stars (IRE))
Tnr: L R Noble Rdr: W B Kennedy 57
6
7.1
One Bold Cat
- 5g The Bold One (NZ) x Floozie Cat (NZ) (One Cool Cat (USA))
Tnr: R J Patterson Rdr: C J Grylls 59
7
7.5
Mali Ston
- 6g El Roca (AUS) x Loviste (NZ) (Black Minnaloushe (USA))
Tnr: Darryn & Briar Weatherley Rdr: S R Weatherley 59
8
7.6
Manifique
- 5m Savabeel (AUS) x Shez Sinsational (NZ) (Ekraar (USA))
Tnr: Peter Didham Rdr: K Asano 57
9
9.1
Sharp 'n' Smart
- 4g Redwood (GB) x Queen Margaret (NZ) (Swiss Ace (AUS))
Tnr: Team Rogerson Rdr: V A Colgan 59
10
9.6
Riodini
- 7g Proisir (AUS) x Giardini (NZ) (Perfectly Ready (AUS))
Tnr: N W Tiley Rdr: M Hashizume 59
More Reading...
Magic Carpet wins G2 Hawkes Bay Guineas - New SW Satono Aladdin
Talented colt Magic Carpet chose the ideal moment to break his maiden status when he produced a dogged effort to claim victory in the Gr.2 Timberspan Hawke’s Bay Guineas (1400).
Toronado Filly Snow Mercy Wins G3 Scarborough
Coming off the back of a maiden victory at Morphettville recently at just her second start, the Phillip Stokes trained Snow Mercy highlighted her future class with an impressive victory in the Group 3 MVRC Scarborough Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on Friday night.
Sires With Winners - Friday September 26
Here is the full list of 60 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Ardrossan Filly Wins First Kiwi Juvenile Race of New Season
Otaki horseman Johno Benner has a good association with the Karaka Millions, and he could have another serious contender on his hands for January’s showpiece.
El Vencedor Achievements Recognized
El Vencedor’s golden run of form has been recognised on the world stage, with the Stephen Marsh-trained gelding rated the 10th joint best galloper in the world in the latest LONGINES World’s Best Racehorse Rankings.
El Vencedor Overcomes Injury Scare
After overcoming an injury scare earlier in the week, fortune has turned in favour of Kiwi flyer El Vencedor, drawing barrier one for Sunday’s HK$28 million Gr.1 FWD QEII Cup (2000m) at Sha Tin.
El Vencedor Crowned NZ Horse of the Year
Rich Hill Stud’s standing as a centre of thoroughbred excellence has been further emphasised with El Vencedor named New Zealand’s Horse of the Year.
Spring Plans for El Vencedor
New Zealand’s top-rated performer El Vencedor will contest all three legs of the spring Triple Crown series.
Wootton Bassett Colt Wins G2 Stutt Stakes
The racing and breeding world was shocked earlier this week by the passing of champion sire Wootton Bassett (GB), whose talented son West of Swindon picked the right race in which to break his maiden when scoring a bold front running victory in the $300,000 Group II MVRC Stutt Stakes (1600m) at Moonee Valley on Friday night.
Tagaloa 3YO on NZ 2000 Guineas Path
Local three-year-old Alottago thrust his name into Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) contention with a striking come-from-behind performance in the Rangiora New World Guineas Trial (1400m) at Riccarton on Saturday.