Marsh’s Guineas hopes well but ground an issue
The friendly rivalry between stablemates Burn To Shine and Codigo will continue as they return to Hastings on Saturday for the Group 2 Hawke’s Bay Guineas (1400m).
Both trained by Stephen Marsh, the duo is in excellent form for the age group feature, although the rain-affected going is a concern.
Marsh commented on their path to the New Zealand 2000 Guineas, saying, “It’s far from ideal for either of them, but they need to run and are on exactly the same path to the Group 1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m).
“They’ll have a go at Hastings and then the Group 2 Sarten Memorial (1400m) before they get on a plane to Christchurch.”
Burn To Shine and Codigo previously met in the Listed El Roca – Sir Colin Meads Trophy (1200m) on the opening day of the Hawke’s Bay carnival, where Burn To Shine finished second and Codigo came in fourth.
Marsh assessed their performances, stating, “Burn To Shine just didn’t really get out when he needed to, and the 1200m was a bit short for him, but he attacked the line well.
“Codigo was three wide without any cover, and he fought on really well.”
While both horses have shown their ability on rain-affected surfaces, the less-than-ideal track conditions at Hastings are not their preference.
“They’re certainly no duffers, that’s for sure, but I think they are far better on top of the ground, and we’re all in the same boat,” Marsh said off the expected track conditions on Saturday.
“They have both drawn nicely, and I would have loved to have seen a good track for them to have had a fair crack at it.”
Marsh will have a strong presence at Hastings and is also looking to Financier as a leading contender after consecutive runner-up finishes.
“I really like Financier, he’s probably a little bit of an unknown on the wet track, but he is going great guns, and as long as it’s not bottomless, I think he will be hard to beat,” he said.
The stable also has promising youngsters Tower Flypass and Sako running at Te Rapa on Friday.
Despite the tricky track conditions, both horses impressed in their previous outings.
Stakes-placed filly Glamour Tycoon is set to take advantage of a drop in class in the 3YO Maiden (1400m) following her strong sixth-place finish in the Group 3 Gold Trail Stakes (1200m).
“Glamour Tycoon is going terrific, and she has drawn a bit of a sticky gate (16), but the distance suits her, and with the rain, the draw may not be so bad later in the day,” Marsh said.
Marsh also expects a solid performance from last season’s Group 3 Desert Gold Stakes (1600m) winner Mazzolino in the Waikato Handicap (1400m).
The mare finished midfield in her previous race at Hastings and will carry 58kg in her second-up run.
Marsh noted her as a quick improver off her last start and expects further improvement from this outing.