The best will be seen of promising colt Bourbon Proof when he transitions to middle distance racing, but he is still more than capable of making his presence felt over a shorter trip on Saturday.
The son of Justify has yet to breakthrough and his timing will be immaculate if he can shed his maiden tag at Listed level at Ellerslie.
Bourbon Proof finished runner-up in his sole appearance last season and was then fourth when resuming before another second last time out over 1400m.
“He has drawn poorly every time and never had any luck,” trainer Stephen Marsh said.
“This time, he’s up to 1500m with a nice barrier and I’d just love to see him bounce and get every chance for the first time.
“There’s a couple of really nice ones in it, but he’ll get his opportunity. We’ve run him in some good races and he does have the talent, we really rate him.”
He is from the family of dual middle-distance Group One winner Showella, whose daughter Showcause was a former Champion New Zealand Stayer and Marsh believes Bourbon Proof will also shine when stepped up in trip.
“We think he is one of those three-year-olds who will love getting over ground and the Derby (Group 1, 2400m) will be his goal,” Marsh said.
“He will have a little let-up at some stage and then all systems go for the Derby.”
At the other end of the age scale is stablemate Skyman who showed he is close to adding to his winning record with a last-start second over 1500m when conceding the winner Witz End 5kg.
The nine-year-old is ideally suited to go one better in the Group 3 Challenge Stakes (1600m).
“He always races well at Ellerslie and he’s drawn two, he’s coming from a handicap when he carried a big weight (59kg) and he’s in at set weights and penalties,” Marsh said.
“Him and Aegon just get in so well and Warren (Kennedy) has ridden him in a trial and loved the horse, he maps to get a good run and gets in so very, very well.”
Marsh will also be represented by a genuine black-type contender at Wanganui when Hitabell steps out in the Listed The O’Leary’s Fillies’ Stakes (1340m).
“She won well at Taupo and the just had no luck at all in a good three-year-old race at Ellerslie (Group 2 Soliloquy Stakes, 1400m),” he said.
Hitabell again suffered an interrupted run when unplaced last time out and Marsh said she possessed the early pace to hopefully negate a potentially awkward gate (10).
“She is going great and has enough tactical speed to cross a few, she’s a really nice filly.”
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