Stephen Marsh believes the El Vencedor that is heading to Hastings for Saturday’s Gr.1 Arrowfield Stud Plate (1600m) is barely recognisable as the same horse that has competed during the Hawke’s Bay Spring Carnival in previous seasons.
The son of Shocking was very much a work in progress when he lined up in the Gr.2 Hawke's Bay Guineas (1400m) on this day three years ago. Stepping straight into stakes company only two weeks after his maiden win at Taupo, he finished at the tail of the field behind Mana Nui.
El Vencedor returned for last year's carnival and picked up a pair of fourth placings, including in the Gr.3 Spring Sprint (1400m). Those races served as a springboard into a career-best season as a five-year-old, winning the Gr.1 Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes (2000m) and Gr.3 Eagle Technology Stakes (1600m) along with seconds in the Gr.1 Thorndon Mile (1600m) and Listed Fulton Family Stakes (1500m), a third in the Gr.2 Rich Hill Mile (1600m) and a fourth in the Gr.1 Otaki-Maori WFA Classic (1600m).
"He just seems so much mature," Marsh said. "He's really developed into the complete racehorse now. I'm looking forward to seeing him run in the Arrowfield on Saturday, and then I'd expect him to be ready to step up to 2000m for the Livamol (Gr.1)."
El Vencedor resumed in a 1400m open handicap at Ruakaka on September 7, carrying 60kg into a close fourth behind Arrowfield rival Malt Time.
"He ran a terrific race first-up," Marsh said. "Not much went right for him in the running and he had a big weight, so it was a performance that had a lot of merit.
"We sent him up there mainly to build his fitness, and that race has really brought him on a lot. He looks like getting track conditions to suit on Saturday, and going up to the mile will be ideal."
El Vencedor has an outstanding record second-up, recording two wins and a placing from four starts in that state. The TAB has him prominent in the Arrowfield market as a $6 third favourite behind Skew Wiff ($4.20) and Malt Time ($5).
"He's terrific second-up, and I think gate five is probably a perfect draw for him," Marsh said. "I couldn't be any happier with him and I'm expecting him to run very well."
El Vencedor is one of two runners at Hastings on Saturday for Marsh, who will also saddle Super Photon in the Gr.2 AHD Hawke's Bay Guineas (1400m).
The Super Seth colt won the Listed Waikato Equine Veterinary Centre 2YO Stakes (1400m) in a perfect two-from-two campaign as an autumn two-year-old, and his two starts this spring have produced a second behind Savaglee at Taupo and a close fourth in the Listed El Roca-Sir Colin Meads Trophy (1400m) on the opening day of the carnival.
"He might have been a bit on the fresh side first-up, and then he didn't really have any luck on the first day of the carnival at Hastings," Marsh said. "He had a sticky gate and was caught wide with no cover, but he still got to the line well.
"He's gone the right way since then, and getting up over 1400m is going to suit him. He won over 1400m as a two-year-old.
"We were sweating on the barrier draw for him, but he's drawn nicely this time in gate two. He should be very competitive."
Marsh also has a strong hand in Friday's meeting at Te Rapa, including highly promising three-year-olds Kiwi Skyhawk and Love Poem.
The 1200m three-year-old race at this Te Rapa meeting has been a successful one for Marsh over the years, winning it with the likes of subsequent Group Two winner Sumstreetsumwhere and Mega Bourbon, while subsequent trans-Tasman star Atishu was a placegetter in 2020.
Kiwi Skyhawk brings a promising record into this year's edition of the SJC Foundation 3YO (1200m). The Contributer gelding ran third on debut over this course and distance behind Lux Libertas, who has now won four in a row. In his only start since then, Kiwi Skyhawk stepped up to 1400m and won stylishly on August 10.
"We think he's well above average," Marsh said. "We've freshened him after that last win. The 1200m this week will be short of his best, but he's a classy horse.
"I wouldn't be surprised if he won, but he doesn't have to, especially over 1200m. He could carry on down to Christchurch for the 2000 Guineas (Gr.1, 1600m), but a bit further down the track I see him as a real Derby (Gr.1, 2400m) horse."
Love Poem will make her first start in maiden company in Friday's NZB Mega Maiden Bonus Series Maiden (1200m). The Snitzel filly had three starts last season for three placings, all in stakes company. She ran second in the Gr.3 Taranaki 2YO Classic (1200m), third in the Gr.2 Matamata Breeders' Stakes (1200m) and second in the Listed Star Way Stakes (1200m).
"She's a lovely filly and is coming up well," Marsh said. "She's had the trial to prepare her for this.
"I'm hoping that this will be a stepping stone towards races like the Soliloquy (Gr.3, 1400m) and the 1000 Guineas (Gr.1, 1600m).
