Cambridge trainer Stephen Marsh has a host of horses just a step away from booking trips south to the New Zealand Cup carnival.
However, one who has already clipped his ticket is Nest Egg (NZ) (Reliable Man) who will continue his preparation in the Elsdon Park Handicap (2100m) at Ellerslie on Saturday.
The son of Reliable Man is a proven distance performer and while he was successful over the course and distance last time out, there is a feeling he’s now looking for further.
“He was second-up when he won and he still had that freshness about him and he needs good footing and got that on a beautiful track like Ellerslie,” Marsh said.
“He’s a fresh 2000m horse and now he’s a run deeper into his prep and with 60kg, he’s certainly not going to be as effective.
“He is going a lot better this preparation and I’m sure he’ll run well, but he’ll be looking for the 2600m of the Metropolitan (Listed) at Riccarton and then the two miles (Gr.3, New Zealand Cup).”
Nest Egg will be defending his Metropolitan Trophy next month and bidding to go one better in the Cup after his runner-up finish behind Mahrajaan 12 months ago.
Of his stablemates at Ellerslie, Marsh is keen on the chances of Tossuforit in the Head To Trackside.co.nz (1100m).
“She’s had the one run back, she’s drawn one and has the claimer on in Ngakau Hailey and she’s probably our best on the day,” he said.
The Zoustar four-year-old gave a good sight when resuming at Te Rapa where she finished a close second.
“Bourbon Empress is going well and Bourbon Proof is a really nice maiden, albeit kicking off from a bad draw,” Marsh said.
The former was an impressive last-start winner at Matamata and runs in the Barfoot & Thompson Handicap (1600m) while Bourbon Proof resumes in the Auckland Co-Op Taxis (1200m) following a debut second in May.
“If Bourbon Proof could win, he could potentially back up in the Sarten Memorial (Gr.2, 1400m) and then get down to Riccarton,” Marsh said.
“Kiwi Skyhawk will go down and if Super Photon can bounce back in the Sarten he’ll go as well.”
They are all in contention for the Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) while two fillies remain in the mix for the Gr.1 Barneswood Farm New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m).
“The following week at Ellerslie, we’ve got Sexy And I Moet and Love Poem in the Soliloquy (Gr.2, 1400m) and if they run well then they’ll head down as well,” Marsh said.
“Even Bourbon Empress holds a nomination for the TAB Mile (Gr.3, 1600m) on the middle day at Riccarton and is another one that could potentially be there.”
