Mark Two headed toward NZ Oaks, ATC and possibly Qld Oaks
The daughter of Pins finished runner-up on debut over 1600m last month and then acquitted herself admirably when fourth in the Group 2 Royal Stakes (2000m) at Ellerslie on New Year’s Day.
“It’s her first preparation and it would be nice to get her to the Oaks,” trainer Stephen Marsh said.
“It’s a bit of an ask, but it doesn’t have to be in New Zealand if she needs a bit more time. There’s Sydney or Queensland options, she’s very smart.”
In 2016, Marsh won the Group 1 ATC Oaks (2400m) at Randwick with Sofia Rosa.
While Mark Two is now realising her potential, there have been times when Marsh was left scratching his head.
“I’ve always thought she was a good horse, but some of her trials were ridiculously poor,” he said. “She’s come to it now and she’s a lovely filly.”
Mark Two will make her next appearance in the Gr.2 Cambridge Stud Sir Tristram Fillies’ Classic (2000m) at Te Rapa on February 10.
“We’re going to take a different approach and we won’t run her before that,” Marsh said.
Meanwhile, the Group 1 Al Dubai New Zealand Oaks (2400m) at Trentham on March 17 is the confirmed goal for Insight.
“She’s a lovely filly and she’ll go down to Wellington next for the Desert Gold Stakes and after that we’ll plot a path to the Oaks,” Marsh said.
A daughter of Shocking, Insight placed in two of her three outings last preparation before a break and she successfully resumed with a runaway maiden win at Tauranga last week