Kiwi stayer Mark Twain on Comeback Trail

Media Release - Friday July 25

One-time Melbourne Cup fancy Mark Twain will make his first public appearance for more than 12 months when the Roger James and Robert Wellwood-trained gelding has an exhibition gallop at Te Rapa on Saturday.

Mark Twain gears up for a spring return with major Australian targets in sight. Photo: Grant Courtney.

The lightly-raced son of Shocking won last year’s Listed Roy Higgins (2600m) at Flemington to secure a place in the 2024 Melbourne Cup only for a tendon injury last spring to quash the Cup dream.

A year on and the rising six-year-old has pleased in his recovery with the OTI-raced gelding on the Cup comeback trail.

“He’s in great order. He didn’t have a lot of idle time,” James said. “The OTI team have used the services of Matthew Williams in Warrnambool who has had a lot of success with those similar injuries.

“He was not idle from the time it happened until four or five months afterwards and then they gave him a month off, two months before he came back over to us.

“We are mixing it up with a combination of swimming, treadmill and some trackwork, so he’s on a varied program.

“We were very grateful to Terry Henderson and the OTI team to get the horse back. I actually sowed the seed as to whether Terry wanted to leave the horse there given he had rehabilitated in Australia, but it was never in question.”

The winner of four of his 12 starts with a further three placings including a luckless third in last year’s Gr.2 Auckland Cup (3200m), Mark Twain will likely have just one start in New Zealand this spring before an Australian campaign.

“He will have an exhibition gallop after race two at Te Rapa on Saturday,” James said.

“All going well he will have a trial on August 12 and then head to the races at Te Aroha over a mile on August 31 before heading to Australia.”

OTI’s Terry Henderson described Mark Twain as the most talented horse in their southern hemisphere arsenal. 

Advertisement

“He is a very special horse. We got a glimpse of that in last year’s Roy Higgins, where he came from last and won,” Henderson said.

“He needs to qualify for the Melbourne Cup again so he will be aimed towards a race like the Bart Cummings (Gr.3, 2500m) in October.”

Looking ahead to spring, Henderson is also bullish about the prospects of New Zealand Derby placegetter Golden Century, who has transferred to Chris Waller from Tony Pike.

“He trialled really well on Tuesday,” Henderson said. “He will have another trial in two weeks, and there is a race for him on August 15. 

“He could be a Caulfield Cup (Gr.1, 2400m) horse or he could even be a Metropolitan (Gr.1, 2400m) horse.”

An avid fan of sourcing horses from New Zealand, Henderson credited bloodstock agent Phill Cataldo as a key component to the syndicator’s success.

“We are blessed with having Phill Cataldo over there. Phill is a highly respected bloodstock agent who is at the track every morning,” Henderson said.

“Many of the horses that we buy, we know about before they have actually gone to the trials, so we are able to act quickly, which has been a huge advantage to us.

“Phill has been able to produce seven or eight Group One winners, including I’m Thunderstruck. The value is there. The New Zealand dollar is ten percent lower than the Australian dollar, and the logistics of getting them over to Australia are easy.

“We find the New Zealand market to be very attractive, not only in the trial sector but also in the Ready to Run sale. We have had a fair bit of luck with the Ready to Run horses that go under the hammer in November.” – NZ Racing Desk

Advertisment
More Reading...
Mitchell McKenzie Colts Showcase
All eyes will be on the $175,000 Listed MVRC Mitchell McKenzie Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on Saturday with an intriguing field of nine colts and geldings all vying for that all important first stakes win.
Debut Winner and Welcome Return
Vinery Stud’s Exceedance produced a debut winner at Moe on Thursday that started as a short priced favourite and on Saturday at Randwick we will see the return of his best performer to date.
River (Banking) on Dalasan
There are any number of reasons a stallion can go radio silent in their third and fourth seasons at stud.
Sires With Winners - Thursday September 4
Here is the full list of 27 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Kiwi stayer Wins Listed Roy Higgins to Secure Melbourne Cup Start
From last to first - Emerging stayer Mark Twain capped a dream day for Cambridge trainers Roger James and Robert Wellwood when he won Saturday’s Listed Lexus Roy Higgins (2600m) at Flemington and secured himself a ballot-free entry into the Melbourne Cup (Gr.1, 3200m).
Will Macdonald Joins Astute Bloodstock
Astute Bloodstock is delighted to announce the expansion of our team as we continue to meet increasing client demand and pursue our Group 1 ambitions.
Corumbene Stud Mourn Loss of Treasured Mare
Corumbene Stud took to Instagram earlier today to announce the passing of their much loved broodmare Bahia, the dam of Golden Slipper winner Overreach.
Melbourne Cup Ciaron Maher Stable Also in the Hunt
Earlier this week we ran a story on the Chris Waller trained entries for this year’s Melbourne Cup and today we’re taking a look at the trainer with the next biggest number of contenders and that is Ciaron Maher with 13.
Kiwi Stayer Mark Twain Takes First Steps to Melbourne Cup
Mark Twain took the first step in a long road leading to the Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) with an exhibition gallop between races at Tauranga on Wednesday. 
Kiwi Melbourne Cup Contender Kicks off at The Valley
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.