New Zealand Horse of the Year Well Written remains on track for the A$10 million Gr.1 Golden Eagle (1500m) after losing her unbeaten record at Randwick.
Well Written finished sixth in the Gr.1 TAB Epsom (1600m) after an eventful run in which she received some buffeting in the straight when trying to mount a challenge.
Trainer Stephen Marsh said Well Written pulled up with “the thumps”, or Synchronous Diaphragmatic Flutter, a condition that happens when the diaphragm contracts in sync with the heartbeat, resulting in a thumping-like noise.
“I’ve never actually had a horse with the thumps before, but about half an hour later she was good,” Marsh said on Sunday.
“She was a little bit stressed, a little bit overheated; it was quite muggy, but even an hour later she seemed really good and today she’s great. I’m very happy with the way she looks and we’re certainly pushing on to the Golden Eagle.”
Well Written may not have been helped by being caught three-back on the rail, as most of the horses that figured in the finish in the last few races had been running away from the fence.
“They didn’t get a lot of rain but they seemed to get away from the rail very quickly, didn’t they,” Marsh said.
“The track wasn’t bad but it got quite rough in the straight. She came out a bit abruptly and she got pushed around quite a lot. I just think a whole lot of things worked against her – it was also a month between runs. Nothing quite worked out for us.”
In addition, three of the five horses ahead of her, including the winner God’s Window, carried 50kg to her 55kg – she would have been at least 7kg better off at weight-for-age – and the only two horses ahead of her with higher weights were Ceolwulf and Tom Kitten, multiple Group One winners at a mile that have won nearly A$17 million between them.
“The weight was always a little bit of a question mark. It was a lot of weight for a mare, for sure,” Marsh said.
“But she certainly didn’t disgrace herself by any stretch of the imagination, and though there were some good horses in front of her, there were also some bloody good horses behind her.”
Marsh said no decision had been made yet about whether her Epsom jockey Zac Lloyd would be aboard for the Golden Eagle.
Back at home, Marsh’s three-year-old Shambo Jack put himself into contention for spring features when breaking his maiden in style over 1400m at Matamata.
Third in the Listed Timberspan Sir Colin Meads Trophy (1200m) at his previous start, Shambo Jack came from well back to defeat the well-regarded Cambridge Stud filly Joyeuse by a head.
“I thought he won really well. It was a nice field of three-year-olds,” Marsh said.
“He’s a horse I’ve always really liked and he’s a better horse now we’re riding him off the speed. We’ve probably been riding him a bit handy.”
Shambo Jack will now be set for the Gr.2 James & Annie Sarten Memorial (1400m) at Te Rapa on October 26, where a good effort will likely persuade Marsh to head south for the Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m).
“Looking at him yesterday, you’d think a mile at Riccarton would be right up his alley,” Marsh said.
Shambo Jack will be joined in the Sarten Memorial by Raymond, the third placegetter in the Gr.2 The Foxes @ Novara Park Hawke’s Bay Guineas (1400m), who will also be on trial for the 2,000 Guineas.
“Raymond looks a really progressive horse and was really good in the Hawke’s Bay Guineas. They’re two promising three-year-olds.” – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk
