Trainer Stephen Marsh made the early stages of the 2023 Trentham summer carnival all his own as he capped an opening treble with exciting two-year-old Codigo taking out the Listed IRT Wellesley Stakes (1100m).
Marsh commenced with wins by Mercurial and Laneway Flirting and believed he had a great chance to make it three in a row with the son of Ardrossan, after the showy bay had won narrowly but impressively on debut at Matamata earlier in the month.
Rider Michael McNab had Codigo quickly away from his inside barrier before taking up a trailing position behind the Mark Walker-trained pair of Sky On Fire and Rubicon Crossing.
Keen to get off the fence early in the run home, McNab angled his mount across heels and quickly joined issue with the leading pair before settling down to a dogfight with Rubicon Crossing where he prevailed by a neck at the winning post.
Marsh had been confident of a good performance having long believed his charge has enormous potential.
“It is a bit special for this horse, being by Ardrossan, who we trained and to get three on a day is special for sure,” Marsh said.
“He is a lovely horse, who was unbeaten at the trials and then won his first start.
“We probably ran him today a little bit sooner than we would have liked to, but this was a perfect race for him.
“Michael gave him the right run, although I think he might need a week in the paddock now as he might just be feeling his shins.
“He has ticked off the black-type win and ultimately we will aim him for the Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (Gr.1, 1400m).”
McNab was keen to secure the mount on Codigo after his first win at the trials and the pair have been inseparable ever since.
“When I got back from a Covid break and holiday, Dad said that Stephen had a real nice Ardrossan colt,” he said.
“I managed to get on him for his next trial then his first raceday start and today he has won very well.
“The other day (at Matamata) I made him work early and I said to Stephen today that I wouldn’t like to lead on him again,
“As it worked out, I was following the two horses to beat, got a beautiful trip and he did the rest.”
Raced by his breeder, Dame Lowell Goddard along with Waikato Stud, Codigo becomes the first stakes winner for his sire Ardrossan who was retired to stand at Waikato Stud in 2019 after a racetrack career that saw him win four of his nine starts including twice at stakes level while also finishing third in the Gr.1 BCD Group Sprint (1400m) at Te Rapa.
Ardrossan will be well represented at the 2023 National Yearling Sale at Karaka later this month with seven individuals on offer during the Book 1 sale and a further 12 in the Book 2 sale. The sale will run for six days starting on January 29. – NZ Racing Desk
