Andrew Hawkins. “Hopefully The World’s His Oyster”: Marsh Excited For El Vencedor’s International Debut Horse Racing News  Hong Kong Racing News  2025 FWD QEII Cup El Vencedor has overcome a hoof abscess and is on track to become New Zealand’s first QEII Cup runner in 17 years. 23 APRIL, 2025 Trainer Stephen Marsh has brushed off concerns about New Zealand star El Vencedor, reporting that his stable stalwart is back on track for Sunday’s G1 FWD QEII Cup at Sha Tin after a concerning couple of days following his arrival in Hong Kong. A hoof abscess threatened to derail El Vencedor’s quest to become the first New Zealand-trained winner of the QEII Cup – and the first runner from the country since Sir Slick in 2008 – but Marsh confirmed that any lingering effects of the abscess had disappeared after the four-time Group 1 winner took to the Sha Tin dirt for the second day in a row on Wednesday morning. “There have definitely been a couple of hiccups but we’re over them now and he couldn’t be in better shape,” Marsh told Idol Horse. “His work this morning was particularly good, he just looks as well as I can have him. I think he liked seeing himself on the big screen there too, he knew he looked good.  “Take the abscess away and everything from his last start until now has been perfect. He just hasn’t put a foot wrong. Luckily, the abscess happened at just the right time for us to get him spot on and he has settled into the new environment really well – probably a little bit better than his trainer! Although I’m loving being here and the setup is amazing.” El Vencedor’s preparation will continue at Sha Tin on Thursday morning when raceday rider Zac Purton gets his first feel of the Shocking gelding in a gallop on turf.  “The one thing for us is that he came here fit and ready,” Marsh said. “In the end, we haven’t had to change too much and the gallop with Zac tomorrow is all he will need to have him cherry ripe for Sunday. It will just be a maintenance gallop really, breezing home the last 600m but nothing too much. “To get Zac Purton was a great coup, he’s the king here. We’ve kept in contact over the last few weeks, he’s really keen to ride him. When you’ve got the best on and they are bullish, it makes you a little bit more confident too.” Sunday’s HK$28 million feature brings to an end a long season for El Vencedor that began in September and saw him win three Group 1 races: the Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m), the Otaki-Maori WFA Classic (1600m) and the Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes (2000m).  What awaits beyond Sunday remains to be seen but Marsh hopes that the QEII Cup might open doors further afield, although he’s already excited just to be involved on the international stage this weekend. “I’d love to come out of Sunday thinking that the world’s his oyster but obviously it all depends on what happens,” Marsh said. “Whether it’s a Cox Plate, a return here for the Hong Kong International Races later in the year, something else overseas, Sunday will tell us a lot. I think the only thing that we can say is almost certain is that he’ll get a break after this. There are plenty of races for him at home so Sunday will tell us whether we can keep looking at other races or return home and go for the programme there. “It is pretty surreal to be here, it was surreal just getting the invite. You always watch these races and you never think you’ll get to be here with your own horse.” ∎  

Go well Crocetti.

Hghly unlikely China will be doing deals, will just wait until Trump sees sense, might be a while but it will happen

Yoshito Yahagi, trainer of defeated Dubai World Cup (G1) favorite Forever Young, has suggested his colt was compromised by a prerace visit to the receiving barn at Meydan Racecourse for a random urine test and has called for changes.View the full article

Klein Racing's homebred son of Noble Mission loves a mile on the grass and is 3-for-3 at Churchill Downs. These are the conditions for $350,000 Opening Verse Stakes at Churchill Downs for the Thurby program May 1.View the full article

Thanks for that Blaird....I will be cheering him on...Danny does a good job with a small team and Daniel is one of the good guys in racing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j8GZCOYh-eo The latest on Crocetti in Perth

Racing on a Good 4 today and I agree with NM it should have been a Premier meeting with full stakes not some low staked meeting...a missed opportunity AGAIN by the lunatics running the asylum....go well Awapuni we need it...BADLY to  be a success.

Good on them for getting the opportunity...its a fun thing to be chosen for and I for one would love to have one good enough to get invited.

Caught out with the lies, yet again…….. China Says Not in Trade Talks With U.S. China hasn't engaged in trade talks with the Trump administration, Chinese officials said, denying reports the world's two largest economies have started negotiations. "China and the United States have not held consultations or negotiations on the tariff issue, let alone reached an agreement," foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said Thursday. He said reports of U.S.-China talks were "fake news." China's commerce ministry also said it hasn't held U.S. trade talks. "Any claims about the progress of China-U.S. economic and trade negotiations are groundless and have no factual basis," He Yadong, a spokesman, said. China is open to dialogue based on mutual respect, he added. "If the U.S. really wants to solve the problem, it should take seriously the rational voices from the international community and domestic sectors, and fully eliminate all unilateral tariff measures against China." The comments came after a Wall Street Journal report Wednesday said the Trump administration was considering slashing tariffs on Chinese imports in a bid to de-escalate tensions. BEIJING—President Trump’s apparent softening on tariffs against China in recent days has buoyed markets and raised hopes for a detente between the world’s two largest economies. For Chinese leaders, it only strengthens their resolve that Trump will eventually cave if they wait him out.  

Yes Tom I liked that comment from you. Now poor old Douggie/CM  is accusing me of all sorts of nonsense in his messages that will only be posted after he answers..., he must really overate my computer skills,Douggie you are adding the laughing and confused emojis...not anyone else...lying again.. but I know he hates not being able to have a voice here. Akram is also being attacked but he actually made the question easier for Doug to answer...he lowered the amount...from 800K to 500K .Just answer Doug list the horses and I will happily post them and then you can have a say again on RaceCafe.Just post what you can I am sure you will have access to the horses you refer too.

If you look at Waitak who ran in this race last year, he was unlucky and wasn't awful. Crocetti is a better horse than Waitak, well at least over the sprinting trip of 1200m anyway.

Race 1 - MARSH RACING-GOOD LUCK "EV" 2400 1 - King Of The North Race 2 - SADDLERY WAREHOUSE CAMBRIDGE MILE 15 - Another Floozie Race 3 - CAMBRIDGE EQUINE HOSPITAL 3YO 5 - Dubai Rockin Race 4 - CAMBRIDGE RACEWAY 2YO 3 - Argo Race 5 - HUTTON CONTRACTING 1400 4 - Lux Libertas Race 6 - WINDSOR PARK STUD CAMBRIDGE BREEDERS' STAKES 8 - Ardalio Race 7 - ALLIED SECURITY 1200 11 - Nepheti Race 8 - TRAVIS STAKES 3 - Islington Lass Race 9 - MANELINE CAMBRIDGE 1400 5 - Tycoon Prince Charity of choice Huntington's Association - Wellington Branch

Race 1 - MARSH RACING-GOOD LUCK "EV" 2400 3 - Rainbow Delight Race 2 - SADDLERY WAREHOUSE CAMBRIDGE MILE 5 - Wind Rush Race 3 - CAMBRIDGE EQUINE HOSPITAL 3YO 1 - Erin Go Bragh Race 4 - CAMBRIDGE RACEWAY 2YO 1 - The Espy Race 5 - HUTTON CONTRACTING 1400 12 -Super Photon Race 6 - WINDSOR PARK STUD CAMBRIDGE BREEDERS' STAKES 7 - Velocious Race 7 - ALLIED SECURITY 1200 12 - Queen Zou Race 8 - TRAVIS STAKES 2 - Mehzebeen Race 9 - MANELINE CAMBRIDGE 1400 3 - Jack Crabb   Charity of choice Huntington's Association - Wellington Branch

The Royal Ascot heroine has never won over the 1,200-meter distance, but trainer Henry Dwyer believes if Asfoora were to win a group 1 at the trip, it would be in the April 26 Robert Sangster Stakes (G1).View the full article

The Breeders' Cup announced the 2025 "Breeders' Cup Challenge Series: Win and You're In" television schedule. Consisting of five live programs across NBC, FOX, Peacock, and CNBC, the series features automatic qualifying races at premier racetracks.View the full article

Thanks for exiting CM, finally normal service can resume

Trainer Wayne Catalano spoke with the media following Built's April 24 breeze at Churchill Downs in which he recorded a bullet five furlongs in :59 2/5. Both the Kentucky Derby (G1) and Pat Day Mile (G2) remain as options.View the full article

Jockey Ben Curtis was aboard Built April 24 for a bullet five-furlong breeze in :59 2/5 at Churchill Downs and is hopeful to get the call to ride should the horse enter the Kentucky Derby (G1).View the full article

Brian Lynch's assistant trainer and son, Nic, discusses what the team thought of Owen Almighty's April 24 breeze at Churchill Downs.View the full article