While looking forward to a big day of racing at Ellerslie on Saturday, Cambridge trainer Stephen Marsh is excited to head to Taupo a day later where his Group Two performer Financier (NZ) (Tavistock) will make his long-awaited return in the Rabobank Cup (1400m).
The six-year-old son of Tavistock hasn’t been sighted on raceday since his placing in the Gr.2 Japan Trophy (1600m) at Tauranga two years ago, and Marsh is looking forward to stepping him out once more on Sunday.
“It is just exciting to have a nice horse like him back,” Marsh said.
“He had a slight tweak of the tendon, it wasn’t a bowed tendon or anything like that, but we decided to give him a long, extended spell and give him a nice, slow build-up.
“We probably gave him longer than he needed, but time is always a horse’s best friend.”
Marsh has reserved expectations leading into Financier’s first-up run, believing he will require a few runs to return to match fitness.
“We have got him forward enough but he is going to take a lot of improvement, and he is still carrying very good condition, so the run is going to clean him up really well,” Marsh said.
“I think he will take a couple of runs to get back to his fighting weight.”
Meanwhile, Marsh will head to Ellerslie with a strong hand on Saturday, including a three-pronged attack in the Gr.1 Sport Nation Otaki Maori WFA Classic (1600m) courtesy of reigning New Zealand Horse of the Year El Vencedor (NZ) (Shocking), Provence (NZ) (Savabeel) and Queen Zou (Zoustar).
“El Vencedor is obviously using this as a lead-up to the Bonecrusher (Gr.1, 2000m),” Marsh said. “I liked his last run (fourth in the Gr.1 Herbie Dyke Stakes, 2000m), he is bright and well, and I don’t see why he couldn’t give a bit of cheek.
“I thought Provence was a little bit unlucky last start (ninth in the Gr.1 BCD Group Sprint, 1400m). With that run under her belt and back to a mile and back at Ellerslie from a good draw (5), I think she can bounce back.
“Queen Zou is one of the newer girls on the block, has drawn nicely (2) and really deserves her chance but is going to have to be right up on her game.”
Of his other runners, Marsh is particularly looking forward to Kiwi Skyhawk (NZ) (Contributer) and Sinhaman (NZ) (Tivaci) in the Gr.3 Eagle Technology Avondale Cup (2400m), Ardalio (NZ) (Ardrossan) in the Horizon By SkyCity 1200, and juvenile debutant Rose Aye Reign (I Am Invincible) in the Eagle Charters 1100.
“We have nice chances all round but there is hard racing on the day,” Marsh said.
“I think Ardalio coming back to an open sprint is a big chance, I really like the way she is going. I like Kiwi Skyhawk and Sinhaman’s chances in the Avondale Cup, and I really like a two-year-old called Rose Aye Reign, but she has drawn a poor gate (10). I think she is one going places.”
One runner that won’t feature on the nine-race card is Ammirati (NZ) (Savabeel), with the dual stakes winner having been sold to Hong Kong.
“He has been sold to Hong Kong, that is why he is out of the Avondale Guineas (Gr.2, 2100m),” Marsh said. “He is tough, very durable, and I think he is the ideal horse for up there.”