Lucrative day in prospect for Marsh
KIWI trainer Stephen Marsh could be excused for being slightly distracted before saddling up his two runners in the $A600,000 [$NZ618,900] Rosehill Guineas today.
Because while New Zealand Derby winner Crown Prosecutor and Vernanme can both threaten in the major race for 3yrolds on Golden Slipper day, Marsh is hoping to have a couple of wins already in the bag at Tauranga by the time the Guineas rolls around.
The Marsh pair face three fellow New Zealandtrained gallopers as well as The Autumn Sun in the Guineas.
‘‘It looks like it could be a good day at home but things might be a little tougher over here,’’ Marsh told The New Zealand Herald from Sydney.
He could not be happier with both Crown Prosector and Vernanme but the track conditions provide some unknowns.
‘‘It is rated heavy but whether that is the heavy we get at home we won’t know until the day.
‘‘I think Crown Prosecutor will handle it and his wide draw doesn’t bother me, so for those reasons I have less concerns about him than the other horse.
‘‘It is not that I doubt Vern’s ability, it is just with the track they way it is I am not sure we will see the best of him.
‘‘I think Crown Prosecutor can go forward and get handy and I think Vernanme will be no worse than midfield, so they will get their chances.
‘‘But obviously it is a very good field and, like quite a few here, we are hoping for a big run but the [Australian] Derby [April 6] is the main aim.’’
Marsh believes he has three major winning chances at Tauranga today, starting with Tightlign in a small but select race 3.
‘‘We thought he would win last start but one it got wet at Ellerslie he just didn’t handle it so punters can forget that run.
‘‘He has won at Tauranga before.’’
In the next race Marsh lines up Santa Catarina, who was a booming second when fresh up at Ellerslie last start and should be improved.
But while the Cambridge horseman has no doubts he has the best horse in the race he is slightly tempering his enthusiasm.
‘‘Yes, she should probably win but the other thing I would say is she tried very, very hard fresh up at Ellerslie so you could be cautious about the secondup factor this week.’’
With the TAB opening Santa Catarina a $1.75 favourite, that might be enough to put punters off.
But Marsh has no concerns about big stayer Felaar in the Bay Of Plenty Cup.
‘‘It looks a great race for him. ‘‘He won well last start and gets in at a good rating band and he will be very hard to beat.’’
Felaar looks one of several good rides today for Leith Innes, who will take some toppling in the jockey’s challenge at Tauranga.
Innes also rides Tiptronic in the $100,000 Windsor Park Trophy and while his stablemate, Volpe Veloce, is more favoured, Tiptronic looks hard fit and likely to sit just off what should be a solid speed, with several horses who like to go forward drawn wide.
If the race becomes truly run, and ends up tipping towards those with form at distances longer than 1600m, it will suit Tiptronic and he looks one of the better eachway bets of the day. — NZME