Cambridge trainer Stephen Marsh has singled out the Rating 73 handicap as his best chance of success at his home synthetic track meeting on Wednesday.
He will be represented by Billy Lincoln (NZ) (Belardo), Sinhaman (NZ) (Tivaci) and Penurious (NZ) (Sacred Falls) in The Oaks Stud (1550m) and indicated the former to most likely to be his leading light in the contest.
The Belardo four-year-old finished a respectable seventh in an open handicap at Ellerslie two runs back and was then a close course and distance second on his local track.
“I thought Billy Lincoln was terrific the other day and he’s part of a really good hand we’ve got in it,” Marsh said.
His effort in his first outing on the synthetic surface took on further merit as he lost a plate during the race.
Billy Lincoln’s prospects will also be boosted with the booking of apprentice Jack Taplin to reduce his weight to 54.5kg.
At the other end of the scale, Sinhaman will shoulder 60.5kg, with Michael McNab to guide his chances.
The son of Tivaci impressed when resuming at Ellerslie when he got into clear air late and finished off strongly for third.
“With Sinhaman and Penurious, they are staying types so they could be a little bit vulnerable second-up,” Marsh said.
Sacred Falls mare Penurious opened her campaign over 1300m on the course earlier this month and made late ground for third with apprentice Gareth Lahoud to retain the mount.
Marsh is also expected a tidy return from Imperial Empress (NZ) (Satono Aladdin), who will be partnered by Ace Lawson-Carroll, in the Kylie Little Racing (1300m).
She was turned out after unplaced summer outings in the $1 million Aotearoa Classic (1600m) and the Listed Wairarapa Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m).
“She’s a nice horse and has drawn well. She trialled up very well on the synthetic and then went to Waipa where it was very heavy and didn’t really like it,” he said.
“She can certainly give some cheek over 1300m in a fresh state.
“I also like Hakushu, he’s a horse with ability and he’ll have the blinkers on to sharpen him up.”
To be ridden by McNab, the I Am Invincible three-year-old has finished in behind the major players in both appearances this preparation.
Meanwhile, the stable will have a strong hand on Friday in the Listed John Turkington Forestry Castletown Classic (1200m) at Otaki with Miss Moet All (Russian Revolution) and Portland (NZ) (Banquo) to take aim at the Central Districts feature.
“They are two nice fillies and deserve a crack at some black type,” Marsh said.
Miss Moet All successfully resumed on the Cambridge synthetic last time out while Portland finished a close second at Rotorua.
“They both went very against the older horses and have done well since,” Marsh said.
If they run up to expectations, the pair will make a return trip to Otaki for the Listed Courtesy Ford Ryder Stakes (1200m) on July 26.