With a six-week gap between two of summer’s major weight-for-age middle-distance features, trainers of leading candidates have taken a variety of approaches to their preparations.
Trainer Stephen Marsh had a massive grin on his face at Te Rapa on Saturday and it wasn’t just because promising stayer Roctave had overcome some mid-race difficulties to win the MVP Cars 2100 (2100m).
Expat jockey Mick Dee is set to return to one of his happiest hunting grounds, Ellerslie, with a full book of rides on Boxing Day headed by El Vencedor in the Gr. 1 Cambridge Stud Zabeel Classic (2000m).
Ellerslie has been the scene of some of El Vencedor’s most memorable performances, and Saturday’s Livamol Classic could see the reigning New Zealand Horse of the Year become only the second horse to win four Group One races at the Auckland track.
