After being the bridesmaid in each of his three runs this prep, Mark’s Legacy should break maiden status at Hawkesbury on Thursday.
The Jason Coyle-trained gelding has finished second in each of his three runs this campaign, the latest at Wyong over 1350m.
He has improved with each run this campaign with the latest yielding a Timeform figure of 73.
The Power Of Destiny gelding on that occasion settled just worse than midfield and was closing well on the line, beaten 1.5 lengths behind the promising Bracteate.
Previous to that, a second behind the Gai Waterhouse-trained Golden Aro also reads well.
On Thursday, Mark’s Legacy faces arguably the easiest assignment of his preparation in the Agnes Banks Equine Clinic Maiden (1400m).
The race on paper lacks depth and winning claims can be made for only a minority of the field.
Mark’s Legacy rates well clear on weight adjusted 50 day Timeform figures and still relatively early in his prep, is still open to further improvement.
He should be around peak fitness fourth run from a spell and be aided by an inside barrier.
Tye Angland has options from barrier three with the gelding having performed well having settled both prominent and ridden quietly in the past.
There doesn’t appear to be a lot of pace in the event though so expect Mark’s Legacy and Angland to settle handy.
Alavesa shapes as the main danger to Mark’s Legacy before the race depth plummets.
The Anthony Cummings-trained mare resumed in good order at Wyong 11 days ago, finishing second to entertains over 1350m.
It was a good run considering the testing track and the daughter of Danehill Dancer was unlikely at her peak for the outing.
She should strip fitter for the run and will come in well at the weights after the 2kg claim of in form apprentice Winona Costin.
The mare is a clear second pick and can be fighting out the finish.
A query around her is a virus which has swept through the Anthony Cummings stable over the past few weeks but assuming all is okay with the mare, watch for a forward showing.
Keep an eye on betting moves and the parade ring for the remaining runners however as a whole, it looks a race in two between Mark’s Legacy and Alavesa with a strong lean to the former.