Horse racing: Provence returning to scene of greatest win, chasing more Group 1 success

Provence (in red and black) claimed her first Group 1 win in a crowded finish to January's Thorndon Mile. Photo / Peter Riubery

Stephen Marsh has his sights set on further feature-race success, with his proven performer Provence confirmed for Saturday’s TAB Mufhasa Classic at Trentham.

The Cambridge trainer took his black-type tally for the first four months of the season to seven when Ammirata claimed a bizarre win in Sunday’s Group 3 Jennian Homes Wellington Stakes (1600m) at Ōtaki.

In a dramatic final 50m, fellow Cambridge-trained 3-year-old Road To Paris shied at the winning post with victory in sight, dropping rider Masa Hashizume and severely checking Ammirata, who had seemed just as assured of second place.

Adding to the melee, pursuing runners Tulsa King and Landman suddenly burst into contention and when the trio who were still in contention crossed the line, Ammirati held victory by a nose from Tulsa King, with the same margin to Landman.

“I’ve seen some strange things in my time, but that surely takes the cake, it was just crazy,” Marsh said on Monday morning after digesting the outcome of the Wellington Stakes, which he has now won five times.

Meanwhile, Marsh has confirmed that Provence, whose Group 1 Harcourts Thorndon Mile (1600m) and HKJC World Pool New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m) contributed two Group One wins to his collection last season, will give the Savabeel mare the chance of a third elite win in Saturday’s TAB Mufhasa Classic.

Provence will be third-up in the weight-for-age feature after being unplaced in her resuming race and then a late-finishing second behind Qali Al Farrasha in the Group 2 Dunstan Horsefeeds Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1400m) at Pukekohe 10 days ago.

“She’s coming up great and after what we saw last time, the step up to 1600 should be ideal,” Marsh said.

“We know how well she goes at Trentham and now that she’s up there in the ratings [at 104], the weight-for-age conditions suit her.”

Last-start jockey Craig Grylls is sticking with second-favourite Waitak in the Trentham feature, but Marsh is happy to have engaged another in-form rider in George Rooke for Provence, who is currently quoted at $15 on the early odds market.

Marsh also reports that stable star El Vencedor remains on target for the Group 1 Zabeel Classic (2000m) at Ellerslie on Boxing Day, despite his defeat as the $1.50 favourite in last Saturday’s Group 3 Bayleys Great Northern Challenge Stakes (1600m).

“He’s come through it fine, and to be fair, he still ran well when you look at the way the race panned out,” Marsh said in reference to El Vencedor being taken on in the lead and at one point headed by eventual last-place-getter Major Major.

“I don’t expect my horse to be protected or anything, but I was very disappointed with the tactics on the other horse, it wasn’t a good look for anyone.”

– LOVERACING.NZ News Desk