Stephen Marsh will step into uncharted territory at Trentham on Saturday when he saddles four runners for the Gr.1 Harcourts Thorndon Mile.
The Cambridge trainer will still be pinching himself as he watches the quartet of Thee Auld Floozie, Seize The Moment, Ruud Not Too and Serious Satire head down to the start.
"We've got four in and they are all running," Marsh said.
"It's very exciting and it's created a bit of talk too. It feels pretty good to have been able to get all four in there. It was always something we'd worked towards.
"They all had their final gallops at Cambridge this morning and they all worked exceptionally well too. They are in great order and we just need a bit of luck in running now."
Ruud Not Too heads the Marsh runners in the TAB's final field market for the Thorndon at $6, with Thee Auld Floozie rated a $10.50 chance, Seize The Moment at $18 and Serious Satire at $28.
Four-year-old mare Ruud Not Too goes into the race as a winner of five of her 13 starts, including three of her last four, culminating in her Gr.2 Rich Hill Mile triumph at Ellerslie on New Year's Day.
"The sting out of the track probably doesn't help her but you can't fault her form," Marsh said.
"She's not ideally suited with the set weight and penalties conditions, going from carrying 52 kilos in a Group Two to carrying 55 in a Group One, but she is racing well.
"The conditions really suit Thee Auld Floozie. She's rated 99 and carries 53.5kg, the same as Serious Satire. Her and Seize The Moment get into the race brilliantly."
Seize The Moment has won three of his four starts at Trentham and accounted for Thee Auld Floozie in winning the Gr.3 Anniversary Handicap (1600m) at the course a fortnight ago at the same weights.
"He's in really well with 55 kilos and while he's drawn the widest of my runners [barrier 10], we couldn't have fared any better with the draws," Marsh said.
"Serious Satire isn't really suited by the conditions but she deserves her chance. She's been racing well and has earned her place in the race - and any rain around will help her. It's her first go at 1600m but I've always thought she'd be better suited by more ground. I think she'll get 2000m later on too."
Marsh will chase further stakes success at Trentham with impressive last-start Ellerslie winner Rube Bridges contesting the Gr.3 Wellfield Desert Gold Stakes (1600m).
"She's a really progressive filly. She had to be good to win that special conditions race at Ellerslie last start and we think she'll be competitive down there," Marsh said.
