Chocante looking to keep Marsh’s Cup hopes alive
THE 2016 Group Two Brisbane Cup winner Chocante has one more test to pass to keep the Marsh name within striking distance of a unique family double.
Should the son of Shocking run up to expectations in Saturday’s St Leger Stakes at Randwick, a start in the Group One Melbourne Cup beckons.
Chocante is currently a $101 outsider at Ladbrokes to win the 2017 Melbourne Cup.
Chocante is prepared by Stephen Marsh, whose father Bruce rode Silver Knight to win the 1971 Cup at Flemington before embarking on a successful training career in New Zealand and for the last 12 years in Singapore.
After his father’s departure, Stephen took sole charge of their stables at Woodville and Awapuni before shifting the operation to Cambridge in 2008.
Marsh, who enjoyed group one success in Australia with the ATC Oaks winner Sofia Rosa, said Chocante was in top order for the weekend’s assignment.
“He keeps improving with each run and the step up to 2600m will be ideal for him. We’re very happy with him and a shower of rain would be perfect.
“As long as he runs well, we will definitely be going to Melbourne and then we would look at the options before the Cup.”
While not currently in the field, Marsh believes history suggests they will get a berth if they think its the best option for Chocante.
“He’s 28th in order of entry at the moment and, going by past years at this stage, we’d be looking comfortable to get a start. But we’ll wait and see and get Saturday out of the way first.”
Corey Brown guided Chocante to a last-start third in the Group One The Metropolitan and he will again be aboard last season’s Group Two Brisbane Cup winner in the St Leger.