Cambridge trainer Stephen Marsh said he couldn’t be any happier with his trio going into Saturday’s Gr.3 Super Seth Soliloquy Stakes (1400m) at Te Rapa but knows they have a colossal job ahead of them to knock off the race’s leading lights.
Marsh will saddle Mazzolino, Academy Award and Miss Nico Belle for the three-year-old fillies feature, which has become a reliable lead-up to the Gr.1 Barneswood Farm NZ 1000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton, with each of the last four winners coming through the Soliloquy.
“The Soliloquy has attracted such a good field with so much depth to it and we’ve drawn poorly with our two runners (Mazzolino, barrier 14 and Miss Nico Belle, barrier 10),” Marsh said.
“It’s going to be a hard race to win and that’s what has me most worried. Mazzolino is going huge but the outside gate doesn’t make this easy.
“Miss Nico Belle has come through her last win well and has the blinkers and tongue tie added but I’m just a bit concerned about the strength of the opposition and our job from the wide draws.
“A lot will come down to luck in the running. Mazzolino has been faultless all preparation so if she got luck in the running from the draw, she’s a big chance. Hopefully the blinkers can add another length for Miss Nico Belle too.”
Marsh has yet to confirm a start in the Soliloquy for maiden filly Academy Award but was leaning towards taking on her own sex after drawing wide for the Gr.2 James & Annie Sarten Memorial Stakes (1400m) later in the day.
“There’s more depth to the fillies race but she’s drawn worse in the Sarten so I’m very 50-50. We’ll probably make up our mind on Saturday morning,” he said.
Marsh described the unbeaten Ken and Bev Kelso-trained Legarto as “a very good filly” and rated the Roger James and Robert Wellwood-trained Prowess as the other “hardest to beat”.
“Ours have prepared superbly and galloped well leading in but the draws are going to make it difficult,” Marsh said.
Marsh will assess Mazzolino and Academy Award’s performances before deciding whether to press on for a start in the 1000 Guineas at Riccarton on November 12, a race in which he also has Arrowette already in contention from his Riccarton stable.
“We’ll make up our minds in the days after the race but we’re not desperate because it’s a big trip for them and there are plenty of good options for them up here over Christmas.”
Marsh will look for a bold performance from Starrybeel ahead of the Gr.3 Martin Collins New Zealand Cup (3200m) at Riccarton on November 12 when he tackles Saturday’s Dunstan Horsefeeds Stayers (2400m) at Te Rapa, while he is also expecting bold runs from his Rating 75 entries.
Rising Storm, Waimoku Falls, Hoard The Bourbon and Encierro will tackle the Bill Lacey Memorial Mile (1600m), while La Bella Beals, Gee Cee and Fall On A Star are slated for the Waikato Draught 1300.
“La Bella Beals was stiff last start at Matamata but Fall On A Star is going huge and Gee Cee is racing well too. We’ve got a really good hand in the mile too. The key is getting these horses back on good tracks.”
Marsh also has All A Flutter, Ulanova, Courthezon, and Nest Egg entered for Te Rapa, while his Riccarton acceptors are Five Princes, Pow Tong, Deels Done, Raposa Rapida and Summer Festival.
“Pow Tong is a big improver. He’s still got a nomination for the 2000 Guineas and he’s just starting to come right.”
In Australia, Marsh will produce capable filly Miss Cartier in the 1600m Benchmark 84 race at Moonee Valley on Friday night, backing up from an unplaced run at Caulfield last Saturday in Group Two company.
“She’s come through that last start well and I just don’t think she got all opportunities. She’s drawn well in barrier five and has Blaike McDougall to ride and a better track helps her a lot. I’d be giving her another chance.”
