Stephen Marsh’s travelling road show continues this weekend with stakes contenders in two Australian states and a strong hand in a domestic age group feature.
The Cambridge trainer has Roctave in the Gr.1 South Australian Derby (2000m) at Morphettville while Tardelli will do battle in the Gr.2 Queensland Guineas (1600m) at Eagle Farm.
On the home front, in-form fillies Lady Iris and Mazino will go head-to-head at Te Rapa in the Waikato Equine Veterinary Centre Stakes (1200m).
Marsh, who returned this week from Hong Kong where El Vencedor was below par in the Gr.1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup (2000m) after racing too fiercely, has plans to be trackside for Roctave’s Derby bid.
Bred and raced by The Oaks Stud, the son of Roc De Cambes galloped well at Flemington on Tuesday morning and will travel on to Morphettville on Thursday evening.
“He’s really well and has done a treat since he’s been over there,” Marsh said.
“He won so well at Ellerslie that we thought there could be a nice race in him and then he went a boomer for third in the Championship Stakes (Gr.3, 2100m).
“The first and second horses (Kiwi Skyhawk and Zormella) are well above average, so we thought we’d have a crack at the Derby.”
To be ridden by Jordan Childs, Roctave will return home win, lose or draw after Saturday’s outing.
Tardelli was an impressive winner three runs back before he was luckless when unplaced in the Gr.2 Wellington Guineas (1400m) and clinched his trip to Brisbane with a last-start second in the Gr.3 Easter Handicap (1600m).
“Michael McNab has gone over to ride him, he’s drawn an outside gate (13), but he has settled in really well over there,” Marsh said.
“He breezed up this (Thursday) morning so we’re happy with him. He was very good against the older horses in the Easter without a whole lot of luck again.”
Tardelli’s performance on Saturday will determine whether the son of I Am Invincible races on at the Queensland winter carnival.
“We’ll see what he does first and then make some decisions. We’re mindful he’s had a big trip, he flew to Sydney and then floated to Brisbane with no direct flights, but he does seem to have handled it well.”
Closer to home, U S Navy Flag filly Lady Iris followed up her debut victory at Matamata with a runner-up finish behind stablemate Little Black Dress in the Listed Star Way Stakes (1200m) at Ellerslie.
“It was a great run and probably the only question mark is stepping up to the 1400m, she is a fast filly and will jump and put herself right up on speed,” Marsh said.
Hello Youmzain’s daughter Mazino was second first time out at Pukekohe behind Little Black Dress before overcoming a check to run fourth in the Star Way.
“The step up in trip will be right up Mazino’s alley, she has been very good in both of her runs,” Marsh said. – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk
