Stephen Marsh will be chasing a third victory in Saturday’s Gr.2 Thorndon Mile (1600m) at Trentham and is confident he has the firepower on reasonable ground to go close.
The Cambridge trainer’s hopes of retaining the Harcourts-sponsored crown rest with Queen Zou after reclaiming the title last year with Provence following the stable’s 2017 win with Thee Auld Floozie.
Queen Zou earned top honours on New Year’s Day in the Gr.2 Rich Hill Mile (1600m) at Ellerslie with 53kg and the Zoustar mare will carry the same weight again with Matt Cartwright retaining the mount.
However, a continuation of her form will likely rest with a factor outside of Marsh’s control.
“It’s a very even sort of field and if she got the right track conditions then I think she will race extremely well,” Marsh said.
“I just hope the weather bomb doesn’t hit, she’s got a little bit of form on rain-affected ground.
“She goes into the race very well off the back of a Group Two win and has gone forward since then. She’s had a good solid prep and might deserve a light let-up after this.”
Stablemate In Your Dreams was an encouraging debut third at Rotorua and will face a steep rise in class in the Gr.3 NZB Desert Gold Stakes (1600m).
“I really rate her and think she’s a filly going places, she’s in against some nice horses but she’s well above average and the big mile at Trentham, if it’s a good track, will suit her,” Marsh said.
Miss Fladgate will take on a small line-up in the Gee & Hickton Funeral Directors Sprint (1100m) and is expected to give another strong account of herself.
“She’s a mare in good form and I reckon the straight will suit her,” he said.
The Russian Revolution mare has made progress this preparation with a brace of wins and a last-start third at Ellerslie on Boxing Day from her last four appearances to back her claims.
At Pukekohe Park on Sunday, Marsh has tipped a turnaround from Roctave in the trackside,co.nz (2200m). He was an impressive winner at Te Rapa two runs back before an unplaced effort at Ellerslie.
“I think Roctave can bounce back to form, he went a bit hard last time out and nothing went right for him,” he said.
Meanwhile, smart debut winner Lunaman’s performance in the Myracehorse 3YO (1600m) will give the stable a pointer toward his immediate future.
“He’s eligible for The (NZB) Kiwi ($4 million, 1500m) and he’s in the Derby (Gr.1, 2400m) so this race will tell a bit of a story as to where we head with him,” Marsh said.
He returned home earlier this week from the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale where on Monday he purchased a Stay Inside filly, signing the ticket at A$200,000 with Dylan Johnson Bloodstock.
“She’s by a Golden Slipper winner out of a stakes-winning More Than Ready mare so she’s got very good credentials, we only looked at fillies and those with a bit of pedigree and speed,” Marsh said.
The youngster also boasts the presence of Gr.1 Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) winner True Jewels on her pedigree page.