Marsh pair go for Rosehill Guineas
Trainer knows it will be tough in Sydney but he has some good chances at home
Kiwi trainer Stephen Marsh could be excused for being slightly distracted before saddling up his two runners in the A$600,000 Rosehill Guineas today.
Because while Derby winner Crown Prosecutor and Vernanme can both threaten in the major 3-year-old race 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 Zealand-trained gallopers as well as The Autumn Sun in the Guineas but at home Marsh has three favoured runners before he even saddles up his Guineas runners.
“It looks like it could be a good day at home but things might be a little tougher over here,” Marsh told the Weekend Herald from Sydney.
He says he couldn’t be happier with both Crown Prosector and Vernanme heading into the Guineas but like many of the trainers at Rosehill today 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,” says Marsh.
“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 the 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 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 three.
“We thought he would win last start but once it got wet at Ellerslie he just didn’t handle it so punters can forget that run.
“He has won at Tauranga before and with the small field he has to be a good chance.”
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 second-up 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 $30,000 Drymix Cement Bay Of Plenty Cup.
“It looks a great race for him,” admits Marsh.
“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 jockeys’ 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 rockhard 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 toward those with form at distances longer than 1600m it will suit Tiptronic.
He looks one of the better eachway bets of the day.