It’s just over a week out from the Gr.1 Proisir Plate (1400m) at Ellerslie, and trainer Stephen Marsh couldn’t be any happier with hot favourite Well Written.
The unbeaten mare is set to kick-off her spring preparation in the $400,000 feature and had a look at the Auckland track on Thursday morning in a gallop alongside stablemate Little Black Dress, and Marsh was rapt with what he saw.
“I thought she galloped up amazing,” Marsh said. “They didn’t go hard but just came home beautiful. Matt Cartwright (jockey) said it was as good as he has ever felt her. She feels stronger. He was over the moon and so were we.
“I think she is coming up really well and looks great. Today’s gallop was everything we wanted to see.”
Marsh was just as pleased with the surface of the track, and he can’t wait to race on it next week.
“The track was beautiful, and it was great to be back at Ellerslie – geez it’s a good track,” he said.
“Everything galloped on the outside, but Well Written and Little Black Dress were able to gallop on the rail, and they hardly even marked it, it was in such good order.”
Marsh said he is taking a quiet approach with Little Black Dress’ return this spring, with the daughter of Snitzel having a busy schedule last season, which netted placings in the Gr.3 Sunline Vase (1400m), Gr.2 Soliloquy Stakes (1400m) and Gr.3 Cambridge Breeders’ Stakes (1200m), and a fourth placing against the boys in the Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m).
“Little Black Dress had a big campaign at three,” Marsh said. “She ran in both Guineas races and then spelled and then ran through the autumn.
“We are bringing her up nice and slowly. We are going to give her a trial in a couple of weeks at Ellerslie and then look at getting her to the races from there. There are no set plans with her, but she is coming up super.”
Marsh also galloped reigning New Zealand Horse of the Year El Vencedor at Ellerslie on Thursday, and he said he is on track to tackle the Gr.1 Howden Insurance Mile (1600m) first-up next month.
“Michael McNab galloped him and said he has come on a lot from his trial,” Marsh said. “He will trial up there (Ellerslie) on the 15th (of September) and at this stage it looks like we will kick him off in the middle day of Hawke’s Bay.”
Meanwhile, Marsh has been rapt with the way both Media World and Tardelli have come through their second and fifth placed runs respectively in last Saturday’s Gr.2 Foxbridge Plate (1200m) at Te Rapa.
While Media World is guaranteed a start in next week’s Proisir Plate, Marsh is having to play the waiting game with Tardelli, who requires one withdrawal to make the 16-horse field.
“I thought Media World went great and he has come on from that really well,” Marsh said. “I think 1400m second-up is perfect for him.
“I thought Tardelli was a real eye-catcher the other day, I thought he was brilliant. He deserves his spot, he is going really well.”
Well Written heads the TAB’s futures market for the Proisir Plate at $2, ahead of Alabama Lass and First Five at $5, while Media World and Tardelli are currently $16 and $21, respectively. – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk
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