Reigning New Zealand Horse of the Year El Vencedor provided a reminder of the potency of his Rich Hill Stud-based sire Shocking with a slashing first-up run in last Saturday's Group 1 Proisir Plate.
The Stephen Marsh-trained gelding returned from a below par performance in Hong Kong last autumn with a strong run and, a day later, he was crowned the country's Horse of the Year for 2024/2025 at a function on Sunday.
El Vencedor is raced by breeders Mark Freeman and David Price and was the only New Zealand-trained horse to win three Group 1 races last term.
He was a runaway victor in the Herbie Dyke Stakes and Otaki-Maori WFA Classic and completed a hat-trick in the New Zealand Stakes.
His dominance saw him secure 45 of the 55 votes cast for the sport’s ultimate honour and also claimed the Champion Middle Distance Horse.
“It really was another remarkable season for Shocking, with El Vencedor now a four-time Group 1 winner, and the Hayes boys’ Here To Shock flying over to take out the Group 1 BCD Group Sprint at Te Rapa before being nosed out of the Group 1 Canterbury Stakes at Royal Randwick,” Rich Hill’s John Thompson said.
“Let’s not forget Packing Angel storming home for third in the prestigious Hong Kong Derby, and Scary, an eye-catching second in the Group 1 Victoria Derby.”
Shocking stands at a fee of NZ$10,000 (plus GST).