The withdrawal of the top weight in Saturday’s $175,000 Listed VRC Santa Ana Lane Sprint Series Final (1200m) at Flemington saw the field down to just six, with Marble Nine continuing his outstanding recent form to secure his first black type victory.
Short in the market off the back of two recent wins, both down the Flemington straight, the Leon and Troy Corstens and Will Larkin trained 4yo son of Aquis’ Kobayashi jumped from the outside barrier with jockey Liam Riordan allowing the gelding to find his feet and work across the field to lead.
As the field drifted towards the inside running rail, Riordan appeared to have plenty of horse underneath him before giving him a shake up at the 400m mark.
With Godolphin’s pair of Pereille (Fastnet Rock) and Inhibitions (Zoustar) having both settled towards the tail, the Ben and Jamie Melham ridden runners were always going to find it a task to make up the required ground.
Pereille darted back towards the inside rail and made a serious challenge to get within half a length of Marble Nine, but the winning gelding simply packed too much punch after getting an easy run in transit to take the win.
Inhibitions worked down the outside of the field to finish third, three-quarters of a length off stablemate Pereille in second.
With the stable having previously won the race with Group 1 performer The Astrologist (Zoustar), co-trainer Will Larkin felt that Marble Nine has now done his job this campaign and a spell was possibly on the cards.
“It wasn't as pain-free as it was a couple of weeks ago, but it's one of his assets. He's very tough late and he's had to do so today,” said Larkin.
“It was an interesting kind of race as they held up a lot more than he usually does, and I thought letting him slide is probably a bit easier for him. I thought he was sitting a bit quiet on him for a bit there and I thought they were going to get us, but he really dug deep.”
“He probably wouldn't have been here if he wasn't in the form that he was. He'd probably be in the paddock by now. He's ticked off that black-type win for connections. They bred the horse and they've still got the mare there for future breeding purposes.”
“He's ticked that off. So I think he's earned a break now. I think that's probably what we do but we never make a race call.”
Recording his first black type victory, jockey Liam Riordan was gracious for the continued support from the stable.
“It's really good. I have had a lot of placings in stakes races, just haven't been able to quite get the job done yet. So it’s good to get one for Troy, Leon and Will,” said Riordan.
“I couldn't ride a horse when I went there and I'm still riding for them 10 years later.”
“He was a bit keen, but just felt him come underneath me for a furlong just before I got to the course proper. And just when he dropped his head, relaxed for a furlong, I knew that it'd be pretty hard to beat”
“Once he's using his action, getting in a nice rhythm, he's a pretty smart horse down the straight.”
Sporting the same coloured silks as his Aquis-based sire Kobayashi, himself a stakes-winning son of I Am Invincible, Marble Nine joined Mishani Lilly as one of two stakes winner for their sire, who was interestingly also trained by the Corstens father and so duo.
The victory took Marble Nine’s consistent record to seven wins, and five placed efforts from 19 starts with earnings of $577,500.
Bred by Palya Bloodstock Pty Ltd, Vic, Marble Nine is the first stakes winner out of the O'Reilly mare Aura Lee, who subsequently visited Kobayashi for a following three seasons after Marble Nine was foaled.
Unfortunately missing to Rosemont Stud’s Extreme Warrior (Extreme Choice) in 2023, Aura Lee was covered by Darley’s Group 1 winner Brazen Beau last season, with the resultant foal due in the spring.
Covering 137 mares last season, his biggest book of mares in his seven years at stud, Kobayashi will stand at Aquis in Queensland for a fee of $13,200 (inc. GST) in the spring.
