Stakes Winners for I Am Invincible and Charm Spirit at Otaki

Media Release - Friday November 29

Cambridge trainer Stephen Marsh had a memorable day at Otaki on Friday, winning a stakes double and unearthing another Derby prospect.

The Waikato conditioner won the Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) with Crown Prosecutor this year and he has next year’s edition in his sights with Scorpz after his win in the Gr.3 Lucia Valentina Wellington Stakes (1600m).

The son of Charm Spirit hit the lead at the top of the straight after racing midfield for the majority of the race, and he showed his determined spirit when holding out promising gelding Shenanigans to win by a half-head.Scorptz winning the Gr.3 Lucia Valentina Wellington Stakes (1600m) at Otaki on Friday. Photo: Grant Matthew (Race Images Palmerston North)

“Gee he’s a lovely colt,” said Marsh, who shares in the ownership of Scorpz. “He travelled beautifully, but I wasn’t sure on the line.

“He got there (to the front) quickly, he just does what he has to. I think he just buttoned off a bit too, but there’s a fair bit of upside to him.

“He’s nominated for the Derby and some other races. He is a lovely colt on the way forward.”

Jockey Jason Waddell was pleased with the win, but admitted the length of the straight felt like an eternity after hitting the lead earlier than planned.

“He gave me a beautiful ride. He’s had a bit of racing but he’s just coped with it well. I ride him in all his work and his work leading into it has been fantastic,” Waddell said.

“We hit the front too soon to be honest, but sometimes things are out of your hands. I was three back on the rail and the opportunity to push off just presented itself, so I took it. 

“It was a long 350m, I don’t normally say too much but I screamed at him a couple of times to keep his mind on the job.”

Waddell has a lot of time for Scorpz and shares Marsh’s sentiments about his Derby credentials.

Scorpz winning the Gr.3 Lucia Valentina Wellington Stakes (1600m) at Otaki on Friday.
Photo: Grant Matthew (Race Images Palmerston North)

“He can get the Derby distance, no doubt,” he said. “2000m will be fine, he switches off in his races beautifully. 

“He’s a big strong colt, he doesn’t know he’s a colt. He’s the complete opposite of what Crown Prosecutor was last year.”

Advertisement

Earlier in the card, Marsh was celebrating another stakes victory when stable newcomer Evalina took out the Listed Fasttrack Insurance – Levin Stakes (1200m).Evalina winning the Listed Fasttrack Insurance – Levin Stakes (1200m) at Otaki on Friday. Photo: Grant Matthew (Race Images Palmerston North)

Formerly trained in Australia, where she finished runner-up in the Listed Reginald Allen Handicap (1400m), the four-year-old daughter of I Am Invincible was having just her second raceday start for Marsh.

The Cambridge trainer was optimistic heading into the race, but said he was just hoping for another black-type placing with the mare, foreseeing a red-hot pace in the race.

“I thought it would be a blistering speed and she would get back off the bit and I would have been happy if she ran home for a nice third,” he said.

“But the speed wasn’t on and she did relax really well.”

Evalina settled at the rear of the field for jockey Danielle Johnson after jumping away tardily from the gates.

She continued to trail the field turning for home, however, Johnson was able steer her charge into a gap out wide and Evalina went on to gather in her opposition and run away to a comfortable two length victory over What A Smasher.

While Marsh was pleased with the mare heading into the race, he admitted to being pleasantly surprised in how dominant Evalina was on Friday.

“Her trial before she went to the races was enormous and her work has been good, but I certainly didn’t expect her to power over the top of them like she did, especially at this speed, but I am rapt,” he said.

Johnson, who recently returned to raceday riding from injury, was also delighted with the win.

“She did it pretty easily. She had that black-type second in Sydney, so coming back here and getting that black-type win in New Zealand will help her as a broodmare,” she said. “They still ran along and had me off the bit. I got a pretty good outing at the top of the straight and she put them away easily.”

NZ Racing News

Advertisment

Race Result - Fasttrack Insurance Levin Stks LR 1200m

Otaki Track: Good(3) Time: 1:09.82
1
Evalina
- 4m I Am Invincible (AUS) x Tahnee Topaz (AUS) (Lonhro (AUS))
Tnr: S B Marsh Rdr: D S Johnson 53
I Am Invincible
2
2.0
What A Smasher
- 4m Swiss Ace (AUS) x Fortelo (AUS) (Armidale (AUS))
Tnr: K Gray Rdr: M Singh 53
3
2.1
Rock 'n' Affair
- 5m Rock 'n' Pop (AUS) x Stravinskys Affair (NZ) (Stravinsky (USA))
Tnr: K Gray Rdr: S T Collett 53
3
2.1
Sweepstake
- 6m Per Incanto (USA) x Lottery (NZ) (Carnegie (IRE))
Tnr: M P Breslin Rdr: R J Myers 53
3
2.1
Satu Lagi
- 4g Per Incanto (USA) x La Singa (NZ) (Danasinga (AUS))
Tnr: F P Campbell Rdr: D G Bradley 53
6
4.9
Amastar
- 6m Showcasing (GB) x Amirar (NZ) (Ekraar (USA))
Tnr: S B Marsh Rdr: T D Thornton 53
7
5.1
Ferrando
- 6h Fast 'n' Famous (AUS) x Rio Nugget (NZ) (Captain Rio (GB))
Tnr: Team Rogerson Rdr: R T Elliot 60
8
8.4
Princess Amelie
- 4m Snitzel (AUS) x Just Dancing (AUS) (Fusaichi Pegasus (USA))
Tnr: Ms L Latta Rdr: R J Hannam 53
9
9.7
She's A Goddess
- 4m Tavistock (NZ) x Shalaka (AUS) (Lonhro (AUS))
Tnr: M Moroney & P Gerard Rdr: R Kozaki 53
More Reading...
First Southern Hemisphere foals for Paddington
A four-time Group I winner by champion French sire Siyouni, European superstar, PADDINGTON, has had his first Southern Hemisphere foals arrive on the ground at Windsor Park.
Commemorative Retired to Stud
Watching the progress of Godolphin horses as they start stepping our for their new trainers has been interesting to say the least and will get more so this weekend when we see Tom Kitten go around in the Group I MRC Memsie Stakes at Caulfield, but one horse we won’t be seeing again is Commemorative.
Spring Trial Watch – Hawkesbury
There was an interesting set of trials at Hawkesbury on Monday that featured heat winners including Golden Slipper winner Marhoona, Randwick Guineas winner Linebacker as well as the Waterhouse Bott stable Cups contenders Sir Delius (GB) and Vauban (FR), plus we may have seen an Everest horse.
Well Bred Zousain Debut Winner
A full sister to Zousain’s Group III winning filly Drifting, Cheeky Contiki made a winning debut at Pakenham on Monday for the Lindsay Park Racing team.
Was it that Unusual? Who is the Oldest?
There was a lot of attention in the media regarding the age of Australian Horse of the Year elect Via Sistina (IRE) when she returned to racing for a new campaign at Randwick last Saturday, but was it really that uncommon to see an eight year-old G1 winner?
Merchant Navy 3YO Primed for Spring Stakes Campaign
Cody Cole is happy to play a waiting game with Landlock before confirming the three-year-old’s main goals for the season.
Top Filly Beats Top Colt in G1 Prix Morny
The Group I Prix Morny (1200m) at Deauville overnight produced a mightly clash between unbeaten Starspangled banner colt Gstaad and unbeaten filly Venetian Sun with the filly prevailing, although Starspangledbanner got some consolation with a new G3 winning 2YO at Goodwood.
Narrow Miss for Hellbent Gelding in G2 Foxbridge
Lhasa proved he is more than a synthetic track specialist when he nearly caused an upset when finishing runner-up in Saturday’s Gr.2 Foxbridge Plate (1200m) at Te Rapa.
Sires With Winners - Monday August 25
Here is the full list of 12 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Sires With Winners - Sunday August 24
Here is the full list of 67 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.