Bluebood debuts at Ruakaka

[Wandering Eyes]

Australian-sourced talent has shone brightly among Stephen Marsh’s two-year-olds this season, and that trend could continue when the Cambridge trainer unveils the royally bred Moretothinkabout at Ruakaka on Saturday.

Marsh’s juveniles have combined to record eight wins this season, headed by Listed successes by To Cap It All in the Wellesley Stakes (1100m) and Little Black Dress in the Star Way Stakes (1200m). To Cap It All also finished second in the Gr.2 Matamata Breeders’ Stakes (1200m) and third in the Gr.1 Sistema Stakes (1200m).

Both members of that stakes-winning duo came out of the 2024 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale in Sydney, where To Cap It All was bought for A$280,000 and Little Black Dress for A$240,000.

Another of Marsh’s purchases at that same sale was Moretothinkabout, a blue-blooded son of So You Think and the eight-time Group One winner More Joyous. Marsh and Dylan Johnson Bloodstock secured him for A$300,000.

Saturday’s Promote Waipu 2YO (1200m) at Ruakaka marks the raceday debut for Moretothinkabout, who was a smart trial winner at Avondale on June 24.

“He’s a lovely colt,” Marsh said. “He’s trialled up very well. Michael McNab rode him in his trial win and was very keen to stay with him.

“He’s probably going to be better over a bit further than this, but we want to give him one run as a two-year-old before putting him aside for next season.

“He’s beautifully bred and we paid a bit of money for him. It would be great if he could kick his career off with a win on Saturday, but either way, I think he could be a serious three-year-old come the spring and summer.”

Moretothinkabout is part of a three-pronged Ruakaka contingent for Marsh, who will also saddle Mercurial in the Northpine Waipu Cup (1400m) and runaway last-start maiden winner Hakushu in the 2 Aug Bream Bay Business Day (1200m).

Last year’s Gr.1 Telegraph (1200m) winner Mercurial was entered for Te Rapa last Saturday, but was scratched on the morning of the race due to the Heavy10 track conditions.

“It was just the amount of rain they got,” Marsh said. “He’s had no luck in that regard – in the 24 hours or so before his races, the tracks have got a massive deluge. So things haven’t quite worked out in his favour lately.

“I thought we’d keep him for this weekend instead and run him over 1400m. He’ll probably need this run, but I reckon he’s going well and can make his presence felt.

“After this, we’ll look at the open 1300m race on Taumarunui Cup Day at Te Rapa in a couple of weeks, then give him a little freshen-up before racing through the spring. We won’t be taking on the Group One horses this time around, but there’s still some very good prizemoney on offer just below that level and he’s shown that he can still be competitive.”

Hakushu is a three-year-old son of I Am Invincible and recorded a second, two fourths and a fifth from his first four starts. The gelding wore blinkers for the first time at Cambridge on June 18 and blitzed his maiden rivals by six and three-quarter lengths.

“He was just a bit immature before that and not quite putting things together,” Marsh said. “The blinkers went on last start and he won very impressively and with great sectionals. His work has been great since then. Hopefully he’ll strike a decent track on Saturday. He should be a nice chance if he does.”

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