Adelaide trainer Stuart Gower hopes Mongolian Marshal (NZ) (High Chaparral) can be a player during the spring and would like to see the gelding back at Flemington during Melbourne Cup week.
Mongolian Marshal took out Saturday’s Listed VRC/CRV Winter Championship Series Final (1600m) and Gower would like to aim the former New Zealand gelding at the Gr. 1 Mackinnon Stakes (2000m).
But first, Mongolian Marshal will return to Adelaide for two weeks ‘R & R’ before embarking on a spring campaign.
Under the guidance of Brett Prebble, Mongolian Marshal ($41) scored a three-quarter length win from Furrion (Camelot) ($26) with Biometric (Bated Breath) ($26) a long-neck away third.
Gower was over-the-moon with Saturday’s victory and said the only thing he was ‘dirty on’ was not being on-course to celebrate the win.
“I couldn’t believe what odds he was,” Gower said.
“They keep underestimating him, but it’s been a massive result. I’ve had more on him today than when he won over there two starts ago.”
Mongolian Marshal was successful over Saturday’s course and distance on May 22 and Gower planned keeping the gelding fresh for Saturday’s race.
The gelding showed he was on course with his third-place finish at Sandown on June 12 and Gower told Prebble the gelding was in better order for Saturday’s assignment than when successful in May.
With spring approaching, Gower said Mongolian Marshal would have two weeks in the paddock but at the same time keep his fitness levels up on the water-walker.
Gower said it had taken some time to work out the gelding following his arrival from New Zealand, but one thing he does know, the gelding’s liking for Flemington.
“He loves Flemington and he loves a trip between 1600 (metres) and 2000,” Gower said.
“Ideally I’d like to find a nice mile race for him, but the end game would be having a crack at the Mackinnon.”
Originally raced in New Zealand by Inner Mongolia Rider Horse, Mongolian Marshal was initially trained by Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman, for whom he won the Gr.3 Waikato Cup (2400m).
He was sold privately last year to clients of Gower’s and has advanced his record to eight wins for A$550,552 in prizemoney.
Sold by Cambridge Stud as a yearling for $220,000 at Karaka, Mongolian Marshal is out the Dehere mare Ardeche.
