3 minute read

Former New Zealand galloper Mongolian Marshal will give trainer Stuart Gower and connections a guide to his Adelaide Cup aspirations in today's $102,250 Birthday Cup (2040m) at Morphettville.

The six-year-old struck form at the back end of his last campaign, running fourth at big odds behind Noncomformist in the Group 3 Coongy at Caulfield before winning the Kyneton Cup.

And he was unlucky not to win the Werribee Cup at his following start when beaten a half-length behind Wentwood .

The only concerns are the lack of a lead-up run and resuming at 2000m.

"I'm very happy with him," Gower said.

"2000m first-up is a bit of an ask, but he's copped plenty of work and I'm happy going into it.

"I would have liked a lead-up, but he's got the form on the board and they haven't….

"He's got the big weight but I think he'll be in for a long way."

Gower said the son of High Chaparral, who was bred by Sir Patrick Hogan, gives the impression he could run out the two miles of an Adelaide Cup given his relaxed demeanour.

"We originally bought him thinking he was a country cups horse in Victoria," Gower said.

"We thought about going to Tasmania this year, but then thought we've got these races in Adelaide, so we'll go to the Birthday Cup and have a crack at the Lord Reims. If we're happy then, we'll have a go at the Adelaide Cup.

"He's won at 2400m, but never raced beyond that. He's a lovely and relaxed horse, but the Lord Reims will really tell us if he's up to an Adelaide Cup."

Mongolian Marshal is marked an $8 chance with tab.com.au behind Farooq who is the $4.40 favourite, marginally ahead of Michael Hickmott's Don'tdreamit'sover ($4.60) and the Lindsay Park-trained Sikorsky ($4.80).