Stephen Marsh looking to open Carnival on winning note
Cambridge trainer Stephen Marsh is hoping to hit the ground running as New Zealand Cup Week kicks off in Christchurch this weekend.
Marsh will saddle a pair of impressive last-start winners in feature races on the opening day of the carnival at Riccarton on Saturday, with Burn To Shine lining up in the Group 1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) and Nest Egg contesting the Listed Metropolitan Trophy (2600m).
Marsh is shooting for a second victory in the 2000 Guineas, having previously captured the prestigious classic with Ugo Foscolo in 2016. He had the narrowest of near-misses four years later, when Bourbonaire was beaten by Aegon by a desperate nose in 2020.
This year Marsh will be represented by Burn To Shine, racing in the white and blue colours of owner-breeder The Oaks Stud.
The So You Think gelding has never finished further back than third in his six-start career, and his last-start performance was the best of his career so far – beating Trobriand and Lantern Way in a strong victory over the Guineas course and distance in the Group 3 War Decree Stakes (1600m) on October 28.
Burn To Shine will be ridden by Johnathan Parkes and is a second favourite behind dominant market leader Crocetti.
“It was a fantastic win last time out,” Marsh said. “He had his final serious hit-out on Tuesday morning. He was able to gallop on the course proper, which was in beautiful order. It was lovely work and he pulled up perfectly.
“It’s a small, but very select Guineas field. We have the advantage of being settled in down there already, with a winning run over the mile at the course under our belt. Parkesy sticks with the ship. I think we’ve had a perfect preparation.”
Nest Egg not only goes into Saturday’s Metropolitan Trophy as favourite for that race, but he is also the favourite for the Group 3 New Zealand Cup (3200m) the following Saturday.
The Reliable Man gelding was a commanding last-start winner over 2400m at Te Rapa, taking control at the top of the straight and outclassing his Rating 84 rivals by three and a half lengths.
“He has been on a New Zealand Cup path all the way through this spring, and it was really pleasing to see him put away a talented field in good style last start,” Marsh said. “On a good track, stepping up in distance and with blinkers back on, he was terrific.
“He’s been brilliant since then. I can’t fault him at all. I don’t think we could have him any better.
“They’ve had a bit of rain down there in the early part of the week, which should mean the track will just have a little bit of the fire out of it. That will really help him for the back-up into the Cup the following weekend.”
Marsh will also keep an eye on Saturday’s northern meeting at Te Rapa, where he has more than a dozen horses entered including three in the Listed Legacy Lodge Sprint (1200m) – well-performed veteran Tightlign, last-start Group 2 Foxbridge Plate (1200m) placegetter Jodelin Gal, and the emerging mare Lincoln Lady, who has won all of her last four in a row.