Marsh’s Sofia Rosa ready for more group glory

The five-year-old daughter of Makfi hasn’t won a race since she claimed the Group One Australian Oaks, but trainer Stephen Marsh was buoyed by a seventh-placed finish, less than four lengths behind the winner Close Up.

In the mare’s first appearance for five months, Sofia Rosa closed well after encountering trouble in the Group One Tarzino Trophy running.

Marsh is hoping the run proves indicative of a big upcoming preparation.

“Her run was great,” he said.

“She got skittled at the top of the straight and lost momentum and she got to the line really well after that.”

Marsh said Sofia Rosa had come through the race well and would return to Hawke’s Bay for the remaining two legs of the Triple Crown series.

“She’ll run in the Windsor Park and she is right on target for the Livamol Classic.”

If Sofia Rosa’s performance buoyed the trainer’s spirits, the efforts of Thee Auld Floozie, which finished eighth, did the complete opposite.

Marsh believes the horse should have performed better given it had an ideal cart into the race.

“She had the perfect run and had her chance. I thought she should have done a bit more,” he said.

However, the winner of last season’s Thorndon Mile isn’t known for her fresh record and Marsh will better judge her after the Windsor Park Plate.

“She’s done that before first-up and next start over the mile on hopefully a better track should see massive improvement,” he said.

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