A SMALL HICCUP, BUT EL VENCEDOR COULD NOW BE SET TO DO NEW ZEALAND PROUD
By Darren Winningham | Tuesday, April 22, 2025
Mystery surrounds the New Zealand runner El Vencedor in the FWD QEII Cup – or does it?
Let’s go to the horse’s mouth, so to speak, and ask the trainer!
El Vencedor arrived in Hong Kong for the HK$28 million FWD QEII Cup over 2000 metres on Sunday. The six-year-old gelding has been under the watch of the HKJC veterinarian with reports of lameness on the left hind leg. After working in the quarantine trotting ring on Monday he was cleared to resume track work on the Sha Tin track on Tuesday morning.
That is where I caught up with his trainer Stephen Marsh. A trainer with over 1000 winners, 80 of which are Group and Listed victories, Stephen has trained winners throughout New Zealand and across the Tasman where he is experienced in travelling horses to the Australian carnivals and stealing that Aussie prizemoney. This is his first visit to Hong Kong.
We all watched El Vencedor work on the all-weather track at Sha Tin. He was happy in his new surroundings and worked well. Marsh was buoyant afterwards, describing El Vencedor’s work as “solid”.
I asked Marsh about all the drama with his horse and all the varied reports. He put the story straight.
“There was a slight hold up with a hind foot abscess that has cleared now,” said Marsh. “He has cantered this morning sound. He had been cantering out on the inside track on the quarantine, but he is now out here on the big dirt – he worked soundly.”
The plan is to give him a hit out on the turf at Sha Tin on Thursday with race jockey Zac Purton aboard.
“Onwards and upwards now.” said Marsh confidently.
I also asked Marsh about the key booking of Zac Purton – Hong Kong’s leading, record-breaking rider.
“We chased him,” acknowledged Marsh, “but he was very happy to take the ride and felt his form lines coming into this sort of race were very strong. He took the ride a couple of weeks ago. That gives us a lot of confidence”.
Regarding the track conditions Marsh is hoping for a firm surface on Sunday saying, “I think he's better on top of the ground. This track drains very well. I think as long as it doesn't rain on Sunday, we will be fine … but he will need to be right on top of his game because we’ve obviously got a lot of respect for the international horses.
And ‘on top of his game’ relates to quite a substantial level of performance as El Vencedor is coming off three successive Group One wins in New Zealand and New Zealand’s top-rated horse is on a four-race winning streak overall.
The early hiccup for the only New Zealand representative in action on FWD Champions Day, thankfully, appears to have been safely negotiated.
“We feel he is going great … he's looking good … he has settled into Hong Kong extremely well … he is eating good and drinking good and now he is working good,” said Marsh.
“I am confident and really happy.”
______________________________________________________________________
For those wanting to know the more formal and official background to El Vencedor’s situation over the last couple of days, this is the Hong Kong Jockey Club’s media release, posted on Monday, April 21.
EL VENCEDOR - FWD QEII CUP – 27 APRIL 2025
April 21
Dr Bronte Forbes, Head of the Department of Veterinary Regulation, Welfare & Biosecurity Policy has advised the Stewards that EL VENCEDOR, which is entered to run in the FWD QEII Cup at Sha Tin on 27 April 2025, is being treated for a lameness in the left hind leg.
Due to the lameness EL VENCEDOR has been restricted to light work in the quarantine trotting ring between Friday 18 April 2025 and Monday 21 April 2025, whilst it continues to be provided with veterinary care and farrier treatment. Dr Forbes inspected EL VENCEDOR this morning Monday 21 April 2025, prior to and after the horse worked in the quarantine trotting ring, and advised the horse had shown improvement with its left hind lameness. Accordingly, EL VENCEDOR has been passed suitable by Dr Forbes to complete trackwork on the Sha Tin track tomorrow morning.
EL VENCEDOR will continue to be monitored by the Veterinary Officers and will be further examined at its first routine pre-race veterinary examination tomorrow afternoon. A further update on the horse’s condition after this examination will be provided.
UPDATE
22/4/2025
EL VENCEDOR – FWD QEII CUP – 27 APRIL 2025 (UPDATE)
Further to the press release of 21 April 2025, Dr Bronte Forbes, Head of Veterinary Regulation, Welfare & Biosecurity Policy has advised the Stewards that EL VENCEDOR, which is entered to run in the FWD QEII Cup at Sha Tin on 27 April 2025, was subject to its first routine pre-race veterinary examination this afternoon, following the horse working on the Sha Tin Large All Weather Track this morning.
Dr Forbes has advised that the left hind lameness has improved and that EL VENCEDOR has been passed suitable to continue training on the Sha Tin track and to be presented for its final pre-race veterinary inspection to be conducted on Saturday 26 April 2025. EL VENCEDOR will continue to be monitored by the Veterinary Officers.
Marc Van Gestel
Chief Stipendiary Steward
More articles
|