A quartet of well-performed fillies from Stephen Marsh’s stable took their first steps toward upcoming age group features when they stepped out at the Taupo trials on Monday.
Lady Iris, Little Black Dress, Tale Of The Gypsy and To Cap It All were back in action after enjoying lucrative juvenile campaigns to make significant contributions to a highly successful 2024/25 term for the Cambridge trainer.
“It was a great season and now we’ve got to try and do it all again,” Marsh said.
He equalled his previous highest tally of 104 wins, with a personal best haul of 17 Group or Listed successes, and record stable earnings of more than $6.9 million.
The star performer was Shocking’s son El Vencedor, who posted Group One victories in the New Zealand Stakes (2000m), Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m) and Otaki-Maori WFA Classic (1600m).
“He’ll have a jump-out at Cambridge next week and is coming up super, he looks great and we’ll be looking at the last two legs of the Triple Crown with him,” Marsh said.
The focus on Monday was firmly on the younger members of the team and all four pleased with their opening efforts over 900m.
“It served its purpose to have a trip down there and have a good gallop on a nice track, it will bring them all on really, really well,” Marsh said.
“Little Black Dress and To Cap It All will be having another trial and then head toward Ellerslie for the Gold Trail Stakes (Gr.3, 1200m).”
Little Black Dress won both of her starts, including the Listed Star Way Stakes (1200m), while To Cap It All won the Listed Wellesley Stakes (1100m) on debut and placed in the Gr.1 Sistema Stakes (1200m) and Gr.2 Matamata Breeders’ Stakes (1200m).
As Australian purchases, they are ineligible for the Karaka sales event and will be set for the Gr.1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m).
Tale Of The Gypsy was plagued by outside barriers last season but still won on debut at Te Aroha and finished fourth in the Sistema.
Lady Iris was also successful at the first time of asking and ran second behind her stablemate in the Star Way.
“She could go to Taupo on Sunday week for the three-year-old fillies’ race over 1100m,” Marsh said.
“She’s a bit more forward and could go there and on to Ellerslie and Tale Of The Gypsy will have another trial and probably end up at Ellerslie too for the Gold Trail.
“We could split them with perhaps one for the Sir Colin Meads Trophy (Listed, 1200m), but there is a lot of water to go under the bridge yet.” – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk
