Cambridge trainer Stephen Marsh is pleased with the manner in which talented three-year-old Scorpz (NZ) (Charm Spirit) has bounced back from his Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) exertions, with the son of Charm Spirit set to embark on a Sydney campaign.
The Group Three winner maintained a strong gallop to the line to finish third in the solidly run New Zealand Derby, leaving his conditioner under no doubt that he will relish another staying challenge.
Scorpz will contest the Gr.1 Rosehill Guineas (2000m) on March 21 before the Gr.1 Australian Derby (2400m) at Randwick a fortnight later.
“I was rapt with his Derby run and he came through it well,” Marsh said. “He has had six days out in the paddock and he put on some good weight and came back looking awesome for his little break.
“I was thinking originally that I would just go straight to the Australian Derby but he did so well in his week in the paddock that we will go to the Rosehill Guineas now for sure and then into the Derby. He has just come back magic.”
Marsh admits that Scorpz will be seen at his best when he is back over 2400m.
“The Rosehill Guineas is not a race I am worried about. All I want to do is give him a fitting run for the Derby and that is when he will be peaking again. That is the race for him.”
The winner of three of his 11 starts, the majority of Scorpz’s form is on top of the ground, given the firm underfoot conditions that have prevailed in New Zealand over the past four months, but his trainer believes he would handle a rain-affected surface should Sydney’s fickle autumn weather intervene.
“I think he probably would handle a softer surface,” Marsh said. “If it was a heavy track in the Derby and we went five weeks between runs you might come up a little bit short, so we don’t want to chance anything and that is another reason for the Rosehill Guineas run.
“He was very strong at the line and through the line in our Derby, so I have no doubt about his ability to get a testing 2400m.”
Opie Bosson has been engaged to ride Scorpz in the Rosehill Guineas, with a decision pending on a rider beyond that.
Marsh is also confident the New Zealand three-year-old form will be more than competitive with the Australian middle-distance horses in what shapes as a strong classic crop on both sides of the Tasman.
“I think we have a good crop of three-year-olds here and they will stand right up to the Australians to be honest. Once we get over ground, Sherwood Forest and our horse are very strong staying horses and I think they’d be up to any Derby.”
Marsh knows what it takes to prepare a three-year-old classic winner across the Tasman, having saddled Sofia Rosa (NZ) (Makfi) to win the Gr.1 Australian Oaks (2400m) in 2016.
He also prepared Lucia Valentina (NZ) (Savabeel) to win a Group Three race and finish runner up at Group Two level a couple of months prior to her landing the 2014 Gr.1 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) for Newcastle trainer Kris Lees before placing in the Australian Oaks.
Meanwhile, Marsh, who is currently second on the New Zealand Trainers’ premiership behind Jamie Richards, will line up one-win filly Kaipaki Road (NZ) (El Roca) in Saturday’s Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand Oaks (2400m) at Trentham.
“We’d love to see some easing in the ground but I am not sure whether we will get much of that,” Marsh said of the daughter of El Roca.
“The opposition looks very strong with the likes of Jennifer Eccles and Loire, but she is not out of this race and I just think she has been going well enough that she could possibly be there and if we did get a wet track it would bring her right into it.”
