While trainer Stephen Marsh is resigned to his handy open sprinter Barbaric missing a run in this weekend’s Gr. 1 Makfi Challenge Stakes at Hastings, he is eagerly anticipating the upcoming three-day carnival.
Fresh off a record breaking season of 54 wins from his Cambridge base, Marsh has several of last season’s two-year-old stars ready to rock and roll in the Hawkes Bay spring classic events.
“Rocanto has been working along nicely and we will be able to get a line on his fitness levels at Te Teko on Tuesday,” said Marsh.
“He has spelled brilliantly and has really furnished into an imposing figure so it will be good to see him out on the track again.“At this stage we plan to start him fresh-up in the three-year-old race at Ruakaka on the 12th of September and then he will head to the Hawkes Bay Guineas on the last day at Hastings.”
Another who will appear at Te Teko on Tuesday is Gr. 2 Matamata Breeders’ Stakes runner-up Nahema who Marsh has set for the second day at Hastings.“Nahema will have a run at Te Teko and then she will go straight to the Gold Trail Stakes on the middle day at Hastings,” he said.
“She is likely to be joined by Serious Satire who will have her pipe-opener at Hastings this Saturday. Sofia Rosa is another three-year-old filly who will start at Hastings this weekend but she will then go on a different path to the other two as we have her aimed at the Tea Rose Stakes in Sydney on the 19th of September.”Adding to Marsh’s current three-year-old firepower is Te Rapa winner Billy Mojo who will clash with Rocanto at Ruakaka while impressive midweek Taupo winner, Girlsarebackintown, will have her next run in the Listed The O’Leary’s Fillies Stakes at Wanganui on the 5th of September.
