Fresh off training 100 winners in a season for the first time, Cambridge-based Stephen Marsh added a second personal milestone seven days later when smart four-year-old mare Oseleta (Deep Field) took out the final of the ITM/GIB Sprinters’ Winter Championship (1400m) at Ruakaka on Saturday.
The victory represented win number 900 for Marsh as a trainer and he was delighted to reach the new mark.
“900 wins is pretty cool and is something I had been thinking about a fair bit lately,” he said.
“It was nice to hit that mark so soon after getting our season’s goal of 100 wins and to do it with Oseleta was special as well as she is a very talented galloper that we have been having trouble with to get her back to her best.
“The way she was racing in her last campaign I thought she would come out this prep and just go bang, but that hasn’t been the case.
“She just didn’t want to really let down, but on Saturday I think you saw just how much talent she has.
“She probably got to the front a little early in the home straight but she refused to give in and she stretched out beautifully in the closing stages.”
Marsh had been wary of backing the China Horse Club bred and raced mare up so soon after she had finished third at Te Rapa seven days ago, but her recovery from the effort encouraged him to carry out that plan.
“I don’t normally back them up that quickly, but she was just bouncing after her Te Rapa run and so we took a punt on her,” he said.
“She is very talented and the main aim now is to get some black type with her.
“The first opportunity could be the Opunake Cup (Listed, 1400m) at New Plymouth next weekend, but that would mean racing three weeks in a row.”
Depending how the mare comes through the run, Marsh might nominate for next week’s feature but if she needs more time to recover then a race like the Waikato Stud Foxbridge Plate (Gr.2, 1200m) on August 27 at Te Rapa could be a better option.
Marsh is also keen to see if the daughter of Deep Field could make it into a race like the Gr.1 Tarzino Trophy (1400m) on the first day of the Hastings Spring carnival in September where he will also have several members of his stable targeted at some of the feature events.
“If she continues to improve then the Tarzino is an option for Oseleta, but she will tell us if she is up to that or not,” he said.
“Vernanme, who ran second in three Group Ones last season, is our main player for Hastings with the Arrowfield Stud Plate (Gr.1, 1600m) on the second day his first aim followed by the Livamol Classic (Gr.1, 20240m) on day three.
“We also have two of our handy rising three-year-olds set for the Hawke’s Bay Guineas (Gr.2, 1400m) in Andalus and Financier.
“They have been in work for a while now and will step out at the Te Rapa trials on August 2 to further their build-ups.
“We also have a trio of rising four-year-old mares that I would like to see compete down there in Miss Ella, Dubai Diva and La Bella Beals.
“They are going to jumpout at home next week and will also go to Te Rapa for a trial after that.”
