Trainer Stephen Marsh has brushed off concerns about New Zealand star El Vencedor, reporting that his stable stalwart is back on track for Sunday’s G1 FWD QEII Cup at Sha Tin after a concerning couple of days following his arrival in Hong Kong.
A hoof abscess threatened to derail El Vencedor’s quest to become the first New Zealand-trained winner of the QEII Cup – and the first runner from the country since Sir Slick in 2008 – but Marsh confirmed that any lingering effects of the abscess had disappeared after the four-time Group 1 winner took to the Sha Tin dirt for the second day in a row on Wednesday morning.
“There have definitely been a couple of hiccups but we’re over them now and he couldn’t be in better shape,” Marsh told Idol Horse. “His work this morning was particularly good, he just looks as well as I can have him. I think he liked seeing himself on the big screen there too, he knew he looked good.
“Take the abscess away and everything from his last start until now has been perfect. He just hasn’t put a foot wrong. Luckily, the abscess happened at just the right time for us to get him spot on and he has settled into the new environment really well – probably a little bit better than his trainer! Although I’m loving being here and the setup is amazing.”
El Vencedor’s preparation will continue at Sha Tin on Thursday morning when raceday rider Zac Purton gets his first feel of the Shocking gelding in a gallop on turf.
“The one thing for us is that he came here fit and ready,” Marsh said. “In the end, we haven’t had to change too much and the gallop with Zac tomorrow is all he will need to have him cherry ripe for Sunday. It will just be a maintenance gallop really, breezing home the last 600m but nothing too much.
“To get Zac Purton was a great coup, he’s the king here. We’ve kept in contact over the last few weeks, he’s really keen to ride him. When you’ve got the best on and they are bullish, it makes you a little bit more confident too.”
Sunday’s HK$28 million feature brings to an end a long season for El Vencedor that began in September and saw him win three Group 1 races: the Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m), the Otaki-Maori WFA Classic (1600m) and the Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes (2000m).
What awaits beyond Sunday remains to be seen but Marsh hopes that the QEII Cup might open doors further afield, although he’s already excited just to be involved on the international stage this weekend.
“I’d love to come out of Sunday thinking that the world’s his oyster but obviously it all depends on what happens,” Marsh said. “Whether it’s a Cox Plate, a return here for the Hong Kong International Races later in the year, something else overseas, Sunday will tell us a lot. I think the only thing that we can say is almost certain is that he’ll get a break after this. There are plenty of races for him at home so Sunday will tell us whether we can keep looking at other races or return home and go for the programme there.
“It is pretty surreal to be here, it was surreal just getting the invite. You always watch these races and you never think you’ll get to be here with your own horse.” ∎
