“We are very keen to go to the Sires’ Produce at Trentham [moved from Awapuni] on April 6,” says Marsh. “It’s the first of the bonus races leading into next season’s NZB Kiwi, which we presume will be her big aim.
“If she happened to win the Sires’ Produce, which is a great group one race in its own right, then she’d be eligible for a $600,000 bonus should she win the NZB Kiwi next year. So at this stage, we’ll definitely head that way.”
The NZB Kiwi is the $3.5 million new slot race set for Ellerslie on March 8 next season, and as a 1500m event for three-year-olds, it’s incredibly tempting for Velocious.
While slot auctions for the NZB Kiwi were held only last week, if she was to win the Sires’ Produce, it could even spur one of the slot holders to try and do an early deal with the Velocious connections.
El Vencedor’s win came at his first 2000m attempt, something he is bred to do, but Marsh has slowly worked his way towards it because he used to be a horse who can over-race.
He was beautifully rated by jockey Joe Doyle, and while hot favourite Legarto had the perfect trail and looked certain to grab El Vencedor at the top of the straight, the winner didn’t come back to her.
Imperatriz weighed down
Superstar sprinting mare Imperatriz was brave but beaten by the weight in Saturday’s Au$1.5 million Newmarket Handicap at Flemington.
Asked to carry 58kg, Imperatriz had to settle for second to three-year-old Cylinder, who carried 6.5kg less, with the Kiwi mare’s low barrier draw also not aiding her chances.
Victorian stewards reported after the race Imperatriz had shown signs of EIPH, which is internal bleeding in the airway common among horses.
While her connections are not expecting it to affect her chances of making the William Reid Stakes on March 23, they will need a vet certificate to confirm it is not an ongoing issue.
