They still have not found the bottom to White Marlin (IRE), who replaced his stablemate Goldman (NZ) at the head of Melbourne Cup betting when keeping his record at a perfect six for six in Saturday’s Group III Easter Cup (2100m) at Sandown-Lakeside.
Ridden by Jordan Childs for Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, the 5yo Mastercraftsman gelding opened his stakes account by defeating Right You Are (So You Think) by two and a quarter length with Lunar Flare a long-neck back in third.
The handsome grey was making his first start since walloping a field by upwards of five and a half lengths over 2800m t Flemington on November 1.
Jordan Childs rode Goldman to win the Listed Roy Higgins Quality at his most recent start, so can compare their relative merits.
“They’re both very nice horses. Goldman was tough the other day, but I really like White Marlin,” Childs said.
“He feels like he might just be a little bit above Goldman at the moment.
“They’re both niece types, and they’re both heading for a Melbourne Cup and hopefully, I get to sit on one of them.
“He’s always been a mature type, but he’s probably strengthened up a little more.
“Great training performance by Gai and Adrian to have him first up on a wet track over 2100, and for him to be that strong through the line, he’s a serious galloper that’s for sure.”
Stable representative Rebecca Shanks said the import might make his next start in the Mornington Cup.
“I think he showed that he’s got the constitution of a Melbourne Cup winner today,” Shanks said.
“He was so tough, Jordan didn’t get the ideal run to get to where he needed to be, but he was just too good for them today and showed his class.
“We have a lot of faith in this horse, and we know how good he is, and we were just glad that he was able to go 2100m first up.
“I think he goes to a Mornington Cup next, then the Ramsden third up.”
A winner at his only two starts in Ireland over 2400m when trained by Joseph O’Brien, White Marlin has reeled off wins at Rosehill (1800m) and Caulfield (2000m) before his stakes breakthrough.
Bred in Ireland by Morna McDowall, White Marlin is a half-brother to four winners headed by the Champion Older Female Sprinter in Europe & Ireland in 2021, Romantic Proposal.
A daughter of Raven’s Pass, Romantic Proposal won six of her 21 starts, highlighted by the Group 1 Flying Five Stakes at the Curragh.
Their dam Playwithmyheart (Diktat) is a half-sister to Group 1 Prix de la Foret winner Toylsome (Cadeaux Genereux) and Group III winner Coral Mist (Bahamian Bounty).
White Marlin is the 105th black-type winner for the Irish Two Thousand Guineas winner and former NZ shuttler Mastercraftsman (IRE).
