Stephen Marsh has nine three-year-olds still nominated for either the Group 1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) or Group 1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton next month, and six of them will contest Group races during the Labour Day long weekend.
The Cambridge trainer has a total of 20 horses entered across the meetings at Ellerslie, Riccarton, Trentham and Te Rapa, including a three-pronged attack on Saturday’s Group 2 Soliloquy Stakes (1400m) at Ellerslie with 1000 Guineas entries Love Poem, Sexy And I Moet and Hitabell.
Snitzel filly Love Poem was bought by Bruce Perry Bloodstock for A$280,000 as a yearling in Sydney, and her value has only increased since then.
Her half-sister Estriella has won five of her 11 starts including last Saturday’s Group 2 Caulfield Sprint (1000m), while Love Poem herself was stakes-placed in the Group 2 Matamata Breeders’ Stakes (1200m), Group 3 Taranaki 2YO Classic (1200m) and Listed Star Way Stakes (1200m) in her three appearances last season.
Racing in the colours of Lib Petagna’s JML Bloodstock, Love Poem resumed in maiden company at Te Rapa on September 27 and romped to victory by three and a half lengths.
“She was obviously stakes-placed a few times at two, so it was really good to see her come back and put away a pretty talented field of maidens the way she did first-up,” Marsh said.
“She’s trained on very well since then. It’s a good field on Saturday. Alabama Lass obviously looks very good, and I was impressed with Andrew Forsman’s filly (Kitty Flash) the other day too. But we’re very happy with Love Poem and she could be the big improver.”
Sexy And I Moet finished fourth in her only two-year-old start at Matamata in May, but boasts a perfect two-from-two record this season with stylish wins at Taupo and Tauranga.
“Her Taupo win was very good after she was caught wide and covered a lot of ground,” Marsh said.
“Then she came out and won very well again last time. Both of those wins were on rain-affected tracks, but I think she’ll be even better suited to drier ground.
“She’s certainly not without a chance of picking up some black type in this race on Saturday.”
Hitabell, who was bought for just $9,500 from the 2023 National Online Yearling Sale on Gavelhouse Plus, is stepping straight up to the big time after winning by two and a quarter lengths over 1100m on debut at Taupo on October 11.
“This is a big step up in class and distance for her, but we thought her debut win was very strong,” Marsh said.
“She’s progressing well. With emerging fillies like her, it’s nice to give them an early crack at some black type while they’re on their way through.”
Alabama Lass dominates the bookmakers market for the Soliloquy Stakes at $1.45, with Love Poem the second favourite at $8.50.
Sexy And I Moet is rated a $12 chance, while Hitabell is at $23.
Marsh won last year’s Group 3 War Decree Stakes (1600m) with Burn To Shine, and he will attempt to repeat that result on Saturday with the promising Kiwi Skyhawk.
The Contributer gelding has been consistently finding the line strongly throughout his four-start career, which has produced a maiden win at Te Rapa in August along with two third placings and a fourth.
“Stepping up to the mile at a nice big track, I think this race on Saturday is made to measure for him,” Marsh said.
“His runs over those shorter trips have been very good. Going up to 1600m here is going to be absolutely ideal.
“He travelled down there last weekend and has settled in nicely. The one sticking point is that there’s a fair bit of rain expected, but it’s been quite warm weather lately and I’m hoping the track will be able to cope with a bit of rain.
“This should be a lovely lead-up to the Guineas for him.”
On Monday at Te Rapa, Marsh has Super Photon and Erin Go Bragh lining up in the Group 2 James and Annie Sarten Memorial (1400m).
“I thought Super Photon’s run in the Hawke’s Bay Guineas (Group 2, 1400m) was below par,” Marsh said.
“We haven’t found anything wrong with him since then and he’s been working well. We’ve added blinkers for this race. We know he’s capable of a lot better than what he showed last time, so we’re hoping to see an improved performance.
“Erin Go Bragh is another one that’s making a big step up this weekend, but he’s a horse we’ve always thought quite a lot of. There’s some nice form around what he did at the trials before that debut win, and he’s definitely one that I’d expect to reach a much higher level than the midweek maiden he won first-up.
“Despite having just the one start for the one win, he does still hold a nomination for the 2000 Guineas.”
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