Group Three winner All Saints’ Eve (NZ) (Sacred Falls) had her first hit-out on home soil at Arawa Park on Monday and new trainer Stephen Marsh is excited about her prospects over the summer.
Bred by trans-Tasman powerhouses Waikato Stud and Rosemont Stud, the daughter of Sacred Falls was raced by the pair with Isabella O’Shea, whose husband John trained the mare in Sydney.
She had 18 starts in Australia for four wins, including victory in the Gr.3 Tibbie Stakes (1400m) at Newcastle last year. She also placed at Group Three level in the Liverpool City Cup (1300m) and Kembla Grange Classic (1600m).
She returned to New Zealand a couple of months ago with a view to commencing her broodmare career and to try and add a Group One to her page.
Marsh was happy with her quiet trial over 1000m on Monday and he is eyeing the Gr.1 Thorndon Mile (1600m) at Trentham next month as her first major assignment.
“She trialled up beautifully,” he said. “The track (Slow8) was a little bit out of her range today, but I still thought she was very nice to the line with very limited pressure put on her.
“She has won a lot of money, placed in a lot of good races, and won a Group Three, but she still gets in well at the set weights and penalties.
“We are thinking a race like the Thorndon Mile will be a good race for her, being set weights and penalties.
“She pulled up well and that will bring her on beautifully.”
While used to horses exiting his stable to tackle Australian targets, Marsh said it is nice for the roles to be reversed and acquire a quality Group Three performer from across the Tasman.
“It’s lovely getting a ready-made horse, it is usually us sending them to Australia. It is really nice to get a quality mare like her in the stable,” Marsh said.
“We have had her for about six weeks. She was served, but she’s not in-foal so we get to race her on to next season for an early cover.
“We are now not so time poor, we have got plenty of time up our sleeve.”
“She has won a lot of money, placed in a lot of good races, and won a Group Three, but she still gets in well at the set weights and penalties.”
Marsh has a strong association with both Waikato Stud and Rosemont Stud, the latter of which he came close to winning a Group One with Sardaaj finishing runner-up in the 2015 Levin Classic (1600m) behind Gaultier.
“I trained Sardaaj who got beaten a head in a Group One. They are great, powerful owners, and it is good to have them in the team,” Marsh said.
Meanwhile, stablemate Vernanme was victorious in his 1230m trial on Monday and he will head to Ellerslie on Boxing Day. “He trialled up great,” Marsh said.
“He just needed a good hit-out today and he heads to the Zabeel Classic (Gr.1, 2000m) with Craig Grylls to ride. He is going great.”