Waitak was a class above his rivals in the Gr.1 Livamol Classic (2040m) at Ellerslie on Saturday, completing a spring Group One double in the early stages of what might be a career-defining season.
If Stephen Marsh thought his day couldn’t get any better after winning the first three races on the card at Ellerslie on Saturday, he had to revise those thoughts pretty quickly after the running of the Gr.2 Windsor Park Stud Soliloquy Sakes (1400m).
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.
Ultra-consistent mare La Crique earned a unique place in New Zealand racing history at Ellerslie on Saturday with her seventh runner-up finish in a Group One race.
Sunday’s Kingmakers Syndication (2200m) at Ellerslie was Ata Rangi’s first raceday appearance in 204 days, but the versatile nine-year-old brought his A-game to Auckland and resumed on a winning note.
Visiting three-year-old Thedoctoroflove sounded an ominous warning to his Kiwi rivals heading towards the Gr.1 Trackside New Zealand Derby (2400m) with a stunning victory in Saturday’s Gr.2 Eagle Technology Avondale Guineas (2100m) at Ellerslie.
For the second time in as many months, Cambridge Stud has won a two-year-old race at Ellerslie with a first-starter by their rookie stallion Hello Youmzain.
El Vencedor, or the big EV as he is becoming affectionately known, continued his career-best form with another superb victory at Ellerslie in Saturday’s Gr.1 Sport Nation Otaki-Māori WFA Classic (1600m).
