Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images)
Despite carrying a gruelling 61kg while all but one of his rivals had 53kg, Ellerslie specialist El Vencedor (Shocking) was in a class of his own in Saturday’s Listed Fulton Family Stakes (1500m).
A runaway victory in the $100,000 open handicap was El Vencedor’s third black-type win from only four appearances at Ellerslie. The gelding had previously scored outstanding wins in last year’s Gr.1 Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes (2000m) and Gr.3 Balmerino Stakes (2000m). His only defeat at the Auckland track was a brave third behind Snazzytavi and La Crique in the Gr.1 Zabeel Classic (2000m) on Boxing Day.
That Zabeel Classic placing was a notable turnaround for the son of Shocking, who had finished last among a 13-horse field in the Gr.1 TAB Mufhasa Classic (1600m) at Trentham only three weeks earlier.
El Vencedor is right back at the peak of his powers again now, following up his Zabeel Classic performance with a six-length trial win on January 14 and Saturday’s weight-carrying heroics.
Trainer Stephen Marsh was mainly using the Fulton Family Stakes as a final tune-up for a return to weight-for-age racing in next Saturday’s Gr.1 Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m) at Te Rapa, but El Vencedor’s star quality stunningly shone through.
After racing in third behind Merchant Queen and Short Shorts, El Vencedor ambled up alongside those leaders in the home straight with jockey Rory Hutchings almost motionless in the saddle.
Hutchings pushed the button at the 300m mark and the race was all over. El Vencedor dashed clear and opened up a winning margin of five lengths over Hasstobeawinner and Merchant Queen.
“He travelled so well all the way,” said Hutchings, who had his first ride on El Vencedor in the Zabeel Classic and then guided him to last month’s trial win.
“He let down the way I’m becoming used to him doing. He probably waited for them in the last bit, but it was all over by then. Stephen and the team have got him flying. Bring on the Herbie Dyke next week.
“He normally leads over 2000m, but we expected a bit of speed over the shorter trip today. We took a sit and he travelled beautifully. I waited until the straight before exposing him, because that way he wouldn’t have to feel the 61kg too much. He let down like he didn’t have any weight on his back at all.
“His performance on Boxing Day probably shows that he needs to find a little bit more for the Herbie Dyke, but the feel he’s given me in his trial and again today, I think he’s going better now. It’s going to be a very interesting race.”
The TAB now rates El Vencedor an $8 fourth favourite in a Herbie Dyke market that is headed by quality mares Snazzytavi ($1.80), Orchestral ($3.50) and La Crique ($6).
“I couldn’t have asked for more as a Herbie Dyke lead-up,” Marsh said. “Now we’ll just keep him happy for seven days and head to Te Rapa.
“I was a bit nervous before the race today, but he’s a great horse who just keeps on winning. Jeez, he loves Ellerslie.
“It all panned out beautifully. When Rory angled him out in the straight and hadn’t even moved, you had the feeling the race was over a fair way from home. We’re thrilled.”
El Vencedor is raced by his breeders, David Price and Mark Freeman, and is by Shocking out of the O’Reilly mare Strictly Maternal. That makes him a full-brother to Price and Freeman’s Gr.2 Brisbane Cup (2200m) winner Chocante, while half-brother Sky Darci won seven races including the Hong Kong Derby (2000m) and the Gr.3 Lion Rock Trophy (1600m).
El Vencedor has himself had 38 starts for nine wins, 14 placings and $841,735 in prize-money.
