Provence chases another NZ Group 1 ahead of Chairman’s Sale offering

Multiple Group 1 winner Provence is looking for a fairytale ending when she heads to Trentham on Saturday to tackle the Group 1 NZ Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m).

Bred by Tony Rider, the now six-year-old mare has been raced by the Milan Park principal in partnership with Social Racing, for whom she has won seven of her 23 starts for trainer Stephen Marsh, including the Group 1 Mufhasa Classic (1600m), Group 1 Thorndon Mile (1600m) and last year’s New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes.

Two of those Group 1s have been achieved at Trentham, while the latter has been transferred to the Upper Hutt track this year, and Marsh said it would be great to end her stellar career on a high before she is offered at Inglis’ Chairman’s Sale in May.

“She is going great and the mile at Trentham is tailor-made for her,” Marsh said. “It is a very open field and coming back from the 2000m (Group 1 Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes) certainly doesn’t worry me, her work has been terrific.

“It would be brilliant to go out on a high, she has done a marvellous job – a three-time Group 1 winner and multiple other placings. She is a great type, so she is going to be very well sought after.”

The daughter of Savabeel also hails from a rich pedigree, being a sister to inaugural NZB Kiwi (1500m) and $1.5 million Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m) winner Damask Rose.