Stephen Marsh is turning to a number of his promising young gallopers at Cambridge’s synthetic meeting on Wednesday, including stakes hopeful Miss Moet All (Russian Revolution).
The compact two-year-old by Russian Revolution showed promise earlier in her juvenile season before defeating the older horses when resuming on the all-weather surface in May.
Switching back to the turf at Ruakaka, she battled on well in unfavourable conditions, and Marsh believes she can match up in the Group One Turf Bar MAAT Final 970, with the aid of stable apprentice Jack Taplin’s claim bringing her impost down to just 52kg.
“I thought her win was really good, she jumped well, travelled well and beat the older horses,” he said. “Then she went up to Ruakaka, which had a fair bit of rain, and she really wants a good track.
“She just struggled a bit in the soft ground, but back on the synthetic with a good draw and a light weight, she can certainly bounce back to winning form here.”
Weather-dependant, Marsh is considering a return to the winterless north for the Gr.3 Cambridge Stud Northland Breeders’ Stakes (1200m) on August 16, the first three-year-old stakes race of the new term.
“We’ll see what the next Ruakaka meeting is like in August, with the Breeders Stakes over 1200m, but the beauty of the synthetic is that no matter how much rain you get, the track is always in great order,” he said.
“You can keep these sort of horses running.”
The filly’s stablemate Hakushu (I Am Invincible) caught plenty of attention when breaking maidens at the course in mid-June, second-rating a field that included race winners.
Marsh is hopeful for a repeat performance in the Cambridge Equine Hospital MAAT Final 1300, where Hakushu opened a $1.95 favourite on the TAB.
“He’s pretty smart,” he said. “We were going to take him up to Ruakaka last Saturday, but it got pretty wet and he was in the last race, so that put us off.
“With a nice draw, he looks to have a really nice chance in an even sort of a race, and I think he’s well-above average.”
A son of I Am Invincible out of a Group Three-winning mare in Shoko, Hashuku debuted for Marsh before heading across to be trained in his homeland of Australia, but ended up back with the Cambridge horseman without appearing on race day.
“He went to Australia and probably just didn’t settle in that well there, it was possibly a maturity thing as well,” he said. “But he’s come back, had a break, and he’s turning into a very nice horse.”
The third of Marsh’s key contenders is Mulan Ardeche (NZ) (Dundeel), a winner on the synthetic at her only attempt two starts back. She too then headed to the north to contest the ITM/GIB 3YO Winter Championship Final (1600m), where she closed gamely into third behind Levakia and Casemiro.
She will take her place in the TCL Earthworks MAAT Final 2000 and holds the early favouritism with Michael McNab to ride.
“I thought her run up at Ruakaka was great, she really got going late and through the line was very good,” Marsh said.
“The step to the 2000m should suit, particularly on a smaller track like the synthetic. It’s not like stepping up to 21 or 2200 on a wet track, this should be perfect for her.
“She should get a gun run.”
Marsh views the young trio as his best of the day, while factoring in Penurious (NZ) (Sacred Falls) in the Vosper Law 2000, and Billy Lincoln (NZ) (Belardo) in the TAB 1550.
“Those would certainly be our best three chances and Penurious should be a nice each-way chance,” he said.
“I think Billy Lincoln can bounce back to form tomorrow as well.”