Barrier setback for highly regarded colt

[Wandering Eyes]

Cambridge trainer Stephen Marsh. Photo: Trish Dunell

Cambridge trainer Stephen Marsh believes Bourbon Proof can make his presence felt in strong three-year-old company next season.

Marsh has formed a good opinion of the Justify youngster, but his confidence about a winning debut at Taupo on Wednesday took a severe hit when he was handed a horror gate in the Dylan Johnson Bloodstock (1100m).

It will now be up to premiership-leading jockey Warren Kennedy to work his magic with Bourbon Proof from the outside barrier.

“We think he is very good and if it was a month ago we would have waited for a better draw, but we want to give him a run and then set him aside for the spring,” Marsh said.

“He could be a pretty serious colt but that draw makes it an almost impossible task.”

Bourbon Proof placed in two trials during the summer before a break and then won his 800m heat at Avondale earlier this month.

“Warren knows the colt and rode him in his last trial and really liked him, but I was certainly deflated when I saw the barrier draw,” Marsh said.

“We do think he could be in some pretty good races next campaign. He will definitely spell after this race.”

Stablemate Ortega has also trialled well and will hit the ground from a more favourable gate (six) for apprentice Triston Moodley.

“She will be better next preparation over a bit further, but she is the sort of filly who will jump and put herself there,” Marsh said.

The stable will also be represented in Saturday’s juvenile feature at Pukekohe by Magna Memory in the Listed Staphanos At Novara Park Champagne Stakes (1600m).

The Magna Grecia gelding has been unplaced in three runs, but improvement is expected at the weekend.

“He was very good first-up and was then a touch plain, but the mile should really suit him and any rain will be welcomed,” Marsh said.

Meanwhile, promising three-year-old Takeshi will resume at Taupo in the Michael Moroney/Pam Gerard Handicap (1200m) but is another handed an outside gate.

“He’s had a mixed-up preparation and was ready to go before he had a foot abscess and we trialled him on a heavy track at Te Aroha the other day,” Marsh said.

To be ridden by Michael McNab, the son of Satono Aladdin impressed in a brief spring campaign with a runaway debut victory at Rotorua and then finished runner-up at Pukekohe.

“He’s a real take on trust job, he’ll have this one and a freshen before the spring. I think he’s very good but hasn’t really had anything go his way this prep,” Marsh said.

He does, however, fancy the chances of The Greenkeeper in the opening event, the DJ O’Sullivan-Master Trainer @ Wexford Stables Highweight (2000m).

“He looks well placed with Troy Harris on, his mother’s got a share in the horse, and he’s going well,” he said.

“I also like the two in the fillies and mares’ race.”

Lovaci will be ridden by Courtney Barnes in the Entain/NZB Insurance Pearl Series (1300m) while Sam Spratt will guide El Amor’s fortunes.

“Lovaci has gone really good races and is well drawn (gate one) and so is El Amor (five),” he said.

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