Trainer Vaughan Marshall won his tenth Gr1 at the Hollywoodbets Scottsville Sprint Festival with CTS graduate Ambiorix (25-3), who came home hard in Sunday’s Gold Medallion over 1200m under Hong Kong-bound, Luke Ferraris.
The six Scottsville Gr1’s were posted in the city where Marshall was a pupil at Maritzburg College.
Ambiorix winning the Gr Gold Medallion over 1200m on Sunday 6 June
Ambiorix, tuned to the minute, was right up there in the vanguard with outsiders Gallic Chief (25-1) and Bard Of Avon (10-1), with Silver Salmon in contention.
Ambiorix kicked on best as they came to the 150m mark, and kept his momentum to beat Bard Of Avon by 2,10 lengths in a time of 69,23 secs. Gallic Chief held third.
Ferraris said: “I asked Mr Marshall if I could ride him like in his first race. He has a very relaxed running style. He pinged the gate and just kept rolling.”
Marshall added: “He’s a very decent horse who has always shown he has the ability. We took a gamble in not running him for so long, but it paid off. He strengthened up nicely. He’s also got a very good temperament. He doesn’t get above himself.”
The veteran trainer told the Sporting Post that his charge has pulled up well and will be nominated for the 1400m Gr2 Golden Horseshoe on Vodacom Durban July day.
“If he draws well enough, we will run,” he concluded.
A Cape Premier Yearling Sale R250 000 buy, Ambiorix took his stakes to R353 500 with his second win from two starts.
A first SA Gr1 strike for David Allan’s UK-based Burns Racing, the winner was bred by Barbara Sanne’s Oldlands Stud.
He is a first male Gr1 winner for Maine Chance Farms Equus Champion Vercingetorix (Silvano) out of the twice-winning Indigo Magic mare, Our Darling.
