El Vencedor Overcomes Injury Scare

Media Release - Thursday April 24

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.

The four-time Group One winner was treated for lameness in the left hind leg after arriving in Hong Kong and was restricted to light work until Tuesday morning, where he was passed suitable to complete trackwork at Sha Tin.

El Vencedor pictured at trackwork this week by Grant Courtney

In the hands of champion hoop Zac Purton, El Vencedor completed his final serious piece of work on Thursday morning, albeit after having a decent look at the vast surroundings at Sha Tin.

“All happy, it was good to have Zac on today to get a feel for him,” trainer Stephen Marsh said.

“He’s got a massive grandstand to look at here and it took him a little while to get going. Once he got going, he’s still not fully concentrating, but having that underway now, it should bring him on beautifully.

“It’s a pretty daunting experience, you’ve got big screens here, bigger than most houses, and the grandstands are nearly over the track. It’s good he’s had a look now and he’ll be all the better for it.”

When questioned on preference for barrier draws, Marsh indicated anywhere between one and five would be ideal for his charge and that became a reality as co-owner and co-breeder David Price selected the ace barrier later in the day.

Advertisement

“It’s pretty unreal, three country boys coming to the big lights,” Price said. “It’s been fantastic, Hong Kong Jockey Club have been amazing hosts.”

The son of Shocking will be up against a number of serious international stars in the QEII Cup, with the likes of Cap Ferratt, Prognosis and Goliath. While Price is unsure of where his form stacks up against those horses, El Vencedor’s versatility is his strength. 

“He’s a strong horse, he can lead, he can trail and he’s got a high cruising speed. Tactically, that makes him relatively easy to ride,” he said.

“It’s hard to line it up (New Zealand form), we were ranked number 10 in the world in the LONGINES ratings, so we just don’t know. We haven’t raced against these horses, but he’s coming here on the top of his game, and we just hope that’s good enough.

“Win, lose or draw, it’s going to be fantastic.” LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

Advertisment
More Reading...
Juvenile Trial Watch – Warwick Farm
We had three heats for 2YO’s run at Warwick Farm on Friday morning over 815m with winners by Farnan, Ole Kirk and Kia Ora Stud’s first season sire Captivant, while Stay Inside had an impressive trial winner at Murray Bridge.
Captivant Colt Shines at Warwick Farm Trials
Captivant’s burgeoning reputation for producing precocious 2YOs took another leap forward at today’s Warwick Farm trials, with Courthezon powering to victory in Heat 10.
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.
Kiwi Sires a Recipe for NZB Ready to Run Sale Success
Much of the NZB Ready to Run Sale’s extraordinary success has been underpinned by the stallions that have stood in New Zealand in recent decades.
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.
Mogumber Park hoists wet sail with Marine One
This time last year, the first foals by Mogumber Park stallion Marine One were widely regarded as some of the best types on the ground in Western Australia.
2YO Stakes Racing – Sale Mail
Three stakes races for new season juveniles add plenty of interest to a stellar day of racing this Saturday in Sydney and Melbourne, so let’s take a look at the Sale Mail for these races.
New Stakes-Winner for Zoustar
The $150,000 Listed Hannan’s Handicap (1400m) provided reigning champion sire Zoustar with a new stakes-winner when seven year-old gelding Multinational led for home and could not be caught.
Fourth Group I for Shocking's El Vencedor
Pin up boy El Vencedor signed off his latest local campaign with the final leg of a winning Group One treble when he downed gallant mare La Crique in a thrilling finish to the Gr.1 Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes (2000m) at Ellerslie.