The Gr.3 Lucia Valentina Wellington Stakes (1600m) is quickly becoming Stephen Marsh’s favourite race on the calendar.
The Cambridge horseman is going for his fourth consecutive win in the race at Otaki on Thursday after victories by stable representatives Crown Prosecutor (Medaglia d’Oro) (2018), Scorpz (NZ) (Charm Spirit) (2019), and Zee Falls (NZ) (Sacred Falls) (2020).
Marsh also won the race in 2013 with Lucia Valentina (NZ) (Savabeel), the namesake of the race.
“I love the race and we have got a couple of nice horses to try and keep that record intact,” Marsh said.
Leading Marsh’s charge is last start Gr.2 Soliloquy Stakes (1400m) runner-up Dubai Diva (Pride of Dubai), who had a subsequent trial victory over 1225m at Taupo last week.
“I thought it was a beautiful run (in the Soliloquy), but she was still just doing a few things wrong. She fought all the way to the line and I think she has gone ahead from there too.
“I trialled her at Taupo the other day and I thought she was much more professional and I wanted to give Sam Weatherley (jockey) a feel for her.
“Sam takes the reins on Thursday, (Michael) McNab rode her last start but he has another commitment. She hasn’t been the easiest in her races so that’s why I put Sam on her at the trials, to give him a feel.
“I thought the trial was lovely and she is just a real improving type of filly.”
Marsh will also line-up last start winner Barrow Boy (NZ) (Savabeel) in the three-year-old feature.
“His first-up run for us was okay (when fourth at Te Aroha last month), we thought he would win,” Marsh said.
“We put blinkers on him and he won by about five lengths (last start). He has found another gear with the blinkers on, he is going really well.
“He is another strong chance.”
Marsh will be vying for more stakes spoils at Otaki on Thursday in the Listed Courtesy Ford Levin Stakes (1200m), a race he has won twice before with Barbaric (NZ) (Pins) (2013) and Evalina (I Am Invincible) (2019).
Oseleta (Deep Field) will represent the stable in this year’s edition and Marsh is confident of a bold showing from the Gr.1 Sistema Railway (1200m) aspirant.
“Her fresh-up win was good and her last campaign was outstanding. I thought her win the other day was very impressive,” he said.
“She is going to get in on the minimum (53kg). She is a real lightweight chance. “She is a good mare and she is hopefully on her way to a race like the Railway.”
