Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) hopeful Mark Twain has landed in Melbourne and will commence his path towards the iconic feature at The Valley on Saturday.
While the A$200,000 So You Think Stakes (1500m) wasn’t the original plan for the six-year-old son of Shocking, trainers Roger James and Robert Wellwood elected to head over to Melbourne early after inclement weather curtailed their plans in New Zealand.
“He has travelled over well and settled in nicely, he looks great,” Wellwood said.
“It wasn’t our first pick of races, he was due to run at Te Aroha last weekend, but due to the Heavy track, this was a back-up option.
“We need to get this run under his belt before he steps up over a more suitable distance.
“It has come up a very strong field. You have got a number of Group One winners over a mile, so he is probably going to be beaten for a bit of speed, but if we can see him hit the line strongly, we will be very happy.
“He will probably step out over 2000m next time out, which will be much more up his alley.”
Raced by Australian syndicator OTI Racing, Mark Twain was guaranteed a start in last year’s Melbourne Cup after winning the Listed Roy Higgins (2600m), and while injury curtailed those plans, Wellwood said it still holds him in good stead to gain a berth in this year’s running.
“The win in the Roy Higgins really helps us this year for getting into the Melbourne Cup,” he said. “Fingers-crossed, if we can keep him happy and healthy, we will see him run in a Melbourne Cup this year.”
Back in New Zealand, Kingsclere Stables will hold a strong hand at Ellerslie on Proisir Plate Day, headlined by a two-pronged attack in the Kingmakers Syndication 1300, courtesy of Group Three performer Zormella and Arabian Songbird.
“I am really excited to see both of the mares, Zormella and Arabian Songbird, in that race,” Wellwood said. “They are two nice horses that have come back in good order and it’s hard to split them.”
The stable will also be represented by Osteria in the Sistema 1100, while Aladdin Sane needs a scratching to gain a start in the Horizon By SkyCity 1600.
“Osteria has come back a bigger and stronger horse as a four-year-old, so I am looking forward to seeing him step back out,” Wellwood said.
“I am really hoping Aladdin Sane gets a run. He sits in a bit of an awkward spot in the handicaps to get a run on these bigger days. He seems to like Ellerslie and I think the mile might be his pet distance.”
