Emerging three-year-old Flashback has progressed well during his fledgling career and higher honours beckon the son of Darci Brahma at Trentham on Saturday.
Trainer Stephen Marsh believes the Gr.2 Taylor Property Plus Wellington Guineas (1600m) sets up as an ideal opportunity for The Oaks Stud-bred and raced representative to further his record.
“It’s a good target for him and not as strong a race as I thought it would be, so I think he’s a really good chance,” he said.
“Racing is improving him and the big mile at Wellington should suit him.”
Flashback opened his winning account two runs back at Pukekohe and then finished fourth in a competitive age group line-up at Ellerslie, both times under Michael McNab who trips south for the ride.
“He won his maiden really well and last start he travelled up to them comfortably but didn’t quite know to put them away,” Marsh said.
Marsh isn’t thinking too far ahead with Flashback and will decide on his immediate future after the weekend.
“He’s had a decent preparation, and his last two runs have been great so there’s probably not too much more left for him,” he said.
“We’ll wait and see how he goes on Saturday and how he comes through the race before making any decisions.”
Flashback won both of his trials as a two-year-old before Marsh eased up on the gelding.
“He went through a growing stage and was a bit immature, but he’s always showed plenty of ability,” he said.
“We decided to give him a long spell and he’s going to end up well above average.”
The youngster will be accompanied south by Super Legocy and Mazino, who will give Marsh a strong hand in the HGT Bloodstock (1400m).
“Both have drawn a bit sticky, but they have good early speed and can jump and roll into forward spots,” Marsh said.
Super Legocy has placed at his last two outings following his maiden success at Te Rapa while Mazino followed up her maiden victory with a runner-up finish at Pukekohe.
“They are both going really well and are hard to split, it probably comes down to which one gets the best run,” Marsh said.
The stable will also have numerous runners at Friday’s Pukekohe meeting with Financier a leading hope in the Nikau Contractors Handicap (1400m).
“I really like the way he’s come back and had one start for a second (at Taupo) and he’s done really well since,” Marsh said.
Kiwi Skyhawk, Sinhaman and Roctave all have solid claims in the MyRacehorse Handicap (2100m) with the former getting the nod as the top seed.
“I think Kiwi Skyhawk is an up-and-coming stayer who is going super and there is the Hawke’s Bay Cup (Listed, 2200m) at Otaki coming up,” Marsh said.
“We’ll get through Pukekohe first and all three have had good campaigns, but they’re going to need good breaks at some stage.”
The well-bred La Diem’s last-start victory also has Marsh expecting more of the same from the daughter of Wootton Bassett and the Gr.1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) winner La Diosa in the Nikau Contractors 3YO (1400m).
“She won really well last time out, we’re well represented at the meeting, and I think we’ve got some good chances right through the day,” Marsh said. – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk.
