Stephen Marsh has endured a frustrating run of bad luck with barrier draws leading into Waikato Cup Day at Te Rapa on Saturday, but the Cambridge trainer still expects his team to make their presence felt.
Of the 10 runners Marsh entered across the nine-race card, Mercurial and Provence landed gates 11 and 15 respectively for the Gr.3 J Swap Sprint (1400m), Merchant Queen drew gate 19 in the Pathways The Immigrations Specialists (1200m), Billy Lincoln picked up barrier 12 for the See You @ Te Rapa Tavern (1500m), and Bellarista will jump from the outside gate in a field of nine for the Wentwood Grange 3YO (1200m).
“We haven’t had the best of luck with our barrier draws in recent times,” Marsh said. “It’s a sticky gate for Mercurial in the J Swap, and even worse for Provence. She just can’t draw a barrier, that horse. We’re desperate to get a good gate for her and it just hasn’t happened. She’s got gate 15 again here and would have to be one of the unluckiest horses around as far as draws are concerned.
“It was an even worse draw for Merchant Queen, who won’t be running there. I’ll save her for a Rating 75 sprint at Ellerslie on Boxing Day instead.”
But despite those barrier setbacks, Marsh has liked what he has seen from his Te Rapa contingent in the countdown to Saturday.
Last season’s Gr.1 Telegraph (1200m) winner Mercurial is warming into his six-year-old season, having had three starts for a fourth in the Gr.3 Sweynesse Stakes (1215m), a fifth in the Listed Legacy Lodge Sprint (1200m) and a last-start fifth over 1300m at Ellerslie on November 30.
“He’s building up his fitness,” Marsh said. “He’s just taken a few runs to get there this time in, being a year older. That’s the reasoning behind running him over the 1400m at Te Rapa on Saturday. It looks a nice race for him, albeit with a bit of weight to carry. If he performs well, it sets him up to step back down to 1200m to try to defend his title in the Telegraph.
“It’s a big help that we’ve booked Opie Bosson to ride him. He’s won on him before and will hopefully be able to find him a decent spot from that awkward gate.”
Provence won three races last season and tackled black-type company in the autumn, finishing second in the Listed Flying Handicap (1400m) and sixth in the Gr.3 Easter Handicap (1600m). The Savabeel mare holds a nomination for the Gr.1 Thorndon Mile (1600m) at Trentham on January 11.
“She ran nicely first-up after having to drop back to last from her outside gate,” Marsh said. “It’s been a frustrating time for her with those draws, but she’ll be in her element once she gets up to the mile. She could be a nice chance in a race like the Thorndon or the Easter later on.”
Marsh’s Gr.3 Skycity Hamilton Waikato Cup (2400m) contender Nest Egg will attempt to bounce back from a disappointing New Zealand Cup Carnival at Riccarton last month. The son of Reliable Man had an interrupted run when eighth in the Listed Metropolitan Trophy (2600m) on the first day, then was a well-beaten 13th in the Gr.3 New Zealand Cup (3200m) a week later.
“I think you can put a line through those runs, and especially the New Zealand Cup where the Soft7 track didn’t suit him at all,” Marsh said. “He had a week in the paddock after that and is looking good. With a couple of fine days forecast, the Te Rapa track should come back nicely from its Soft6 rating today and should be spot on for him.”
Marsh has two well-credentialled runners in the Wentwood Grange 3YO. I’m All In is making his first start since finishing third in the Gr.3 Northland Breeders’ Stakes (1200m) at Ruakaka in August, while lightly raced filly Bellarista was a stylish last-start maiden winner at Te Aroha.
“They’re a couple of very nice chances in that three-year-old race,” Marsh said. “Both of Bellarista’s runs so far have been very good. I’m All In was stakes-placed earlier in the season and has managed to draw the inside gate on Saturday, so he’ll get an economical run from there and should have every chance.
“Another race where I think we’ve got two nice chances is the Rating 65 2200m. Spring Queen could be a big improver in that race, coming into it off a freshen up and stepping down from Rating 75 grade. Eve’s Song is in particularly good order as well and should be very competitive.”
