Marsh mares primed for Riccarton feature

Stephen Marsh will be keeping a close eye on Riccarton on Saturday where he will have a two-pronged attack in the Gr.3 Valachi Downs South Island Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m).

The dual-Island trainer will line-up Divine Sava and Miss Ella in the southern feature and he is hoping they can replicate their quinella at Wingatui earlier this month.

“They’ve had a quiet sort of time since Wingatui,” Marsh said.

“The mile at Riccarton really is ideal. There could be a bit of rain there and that should suit them both.”

Marsh has seven other horses set to race at Riccarton, among them Bugatti, who has just moved from Marsh’s Cambridge base to join his Riccarton team.

His best chance might be Doddle, a three-year-old filly who won her second start on February 22 at Pukekohe.

“She’s being aimed at the New Zealand Bloodstock Airfreight Stakes (Listed, 1600m) on April 15 and she’s quite a promising filly who should run well,” he said.

Marsh will also be well represented on Saturday at Tauranga, where he said his best chance could come in a three-year-old 1400m race with Slam Dunk, Academy Award, and Pixie Express.

“Slam Dunk and Pixie Express are last-start winners, while Academy Award is dropping in class,” he said.

“They are three pretty handy three-year-olds.”