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Marsh doubles up at Te Aroha; Boss to ride Surprise Baby; Sandown Cup for Etah James
Marsh doubles up at Te Aroha
Cambridge trainer Stephen Marsh posted a winning double at Te Aroha with a pair of well-bred gallopers on Tuesday.
Debutant Raggedy Doll picked up a cash bonus for her connections when winning the NZB Insurance Pearl Series Race (1200m).
The four-year-old daughter of Hallowed Crown and Group One winner Raggedy Ann had six trial starts on her record before her trip to the races and despite showing a lack of ringcraft, finished the best in a four- horse field.
"She has been a slow maturing filly and has always been a bit green and that showed again today," Marsh said.
"She jumped and went to the front and tried to run off the track a little bit, then got lost coming around the turn a bit.
"Then she knuckled down to the task really nicely and it was good to get a Pearl Bonus."
Two races later Global Currency was impressive winning his 1600m maiden by just over eight lengths.
The Tavistock half-brother to dual Group One winner Kermadec was having his second start, coming off the back of an unplaced run at Ellerslie in September.
"He is a horse we have always thought a hell of a lot of," Marsh said.
"He has shown us heaps and we paid a lot for him at the sales. If you go through his owners there is a big team, Peter Vela, the Inghams, it is a big team of good owners.
"It was good to see him win his maiden like that, 1200m last start was too short for him. He won beautifully today.
"He is a horse we do think will go through the grades and potentially be a Cups horse."
Both Raggedy Doll and Global Currency were bred by Wentwood Grange under their Llanhennock Trust banner and sold through their 2018 New Zealand Bloodstock draft as yearlings.
Marsh went to $320,000 to secure Global Currency while Raggedy Doll was knocked down to syndicator Go Racing for $150,000.
Boss to ride Surprise Baby
Glen Boss has picked up the ride on quality stayer Surprise Baby in Saturday's Gr.2 Zipping Classic (2400m) at Sandown and believes the son of Shocking can put his best foot forward.
The six-year-old started favourite in the Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) but failed to make any impression when 13th under Craig Willams.
Horsham trainer Paul Preusker elected to head to the Zipping Classic after Surprise Baby recovered well from his Cup exertions, with Boss taking over from Williams.
"He can bounce back. He has got an electric turn of speed," Boss said.
"Obviously I am going to ride him quiet and ride him like he's the best horse in the race - which he is. If he can show that acceleration (then he will be hard to beat).
"Speaking to Paul he said the horse has done very well after the race. All the indications are he will run very well."
Boss said punters should rule a line through Surprise Baby's Melbourne Cup performance.
"I thought his run was a forgive run and definitely nothing wrong with Craig's ride," he said.
"I was in his vicinity throughout the whole race and for at least 100m, going to the winning post the first time, he got dealt to really badly. He got sideways and really bent out of shape."
Sandown Cup for Etah James
Kiwi bred and owned mare Etah James will head to the Listed Sandown Cup (3200m) on Saturday and trainers Ciaron Maher and David Eustace believe the daughter of Raise The Flag is still on the way up, despite finishing 17th in the Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m).
"She was pretty right for the Cup, but this is only going to be her fourth run of the campaign," Maher said.
"Glen Boss won the Sydney Cup (Gr.1, 3200m) on her and he jumped on her this morning and was really happy with how she felt.
"She looks really well and I think she is ready to run a big race. She's a dour two-miler that is very honest."
The eight-year-old drew barrier 21 in the Melbourne Cup and covered plenty of ground in the first half of the race.
Prior to that run she finished fourth in the Gr.2 Moonee Valley Gold Cup (2500m).
"Her run at the Valley was really good and it didn't go to plan in the Cup for her, but she is very honest and straight-forward and I think she is still on the way up," Maher said.
