Well-related Mars set to star on synthetic again

[Wandering Eyes]

The polytrack surface brings out the best in enigmatic mare Mars (NZ) (Zoustar) and her connections are hoping that trend continues on Wednesday.

The well-bred daughter of Zoustar will run in the Richard Bright Memorial (1550m), the main event on the Waikato Racing Club’s card on her home all-weather track at Cambridge.

Mars is undefeated in three appearances on the course, including two wins this preparation with an unplaced performance on a heavy grass track in between times.

Vinnie Colgan has been aboard the five-year-old in all her outings this time in and the writing was on the wall before she’d gone into the gates at Ruakaka two starts back.

“Vinnie said he knew even in her preliminary that she wasn’t going to handle it,” said Ben Foote, who trains in partnership with son Ryan.

Colgan will again don the colours of owner Trelawney Stud on Wednesday and Mars promises to be a major player.

“She’s a super talented horse on her day, I remember Michael McNab rode her three times in a row and said he had three different horses under him,” Foote said.

“She’s got a bit of a personality disorder, but she’s put it all together on the poly to be unbeaten.

“Hopefully, she can keep that up and she’s done well since her last run. If you get her at her best, she’s extremely hard to beat.”

Mars was a $200,000 Karaka purchase out of Westbury Stud’s draft and is a daughter of the Fastnet Rock mare Red Is The Rose from the family of the Gr.1 Oakleigh Plate (1100m) winner River Dove.

Stablemate Rosina (NZ) (El Roca) will also line up in the TAB Handicap (2000m) and has twice previously finished in the money on the synthetic track.

“She had a bit of a virus and she’s over that now, so we think she’s a chance,” Foote said.

Meanwhile, two other well-performed members of the team will further their spring preparations with jump-outs later this week.

“The Odyssey (NZ) (Zacinto) will be aimed at the big Cups, including the two-mile ones,” Foote said.

“Whether he comes up in time and is in the right form for the Livamol (Gr.1, 2040m), we’ll have to wait and see.

“We’ve been waiting for him to mature and we think he’s just about there now, hopefully we haven’t seen the best of him yet.”

The Odyssey has won six of his 19 starts and finished third in last season’s Gr.3 Waikato Cup (2400m).

Also nominated for the Livamol, Myakkabelle (NZ) (War Decree) was a multiple stakes placegetter during her Classic season and was spelled following a solid third in the Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m).

“She’s a staying filly and we’ll assess her as we go along this prep,” Foote said.

“Obviously, she’s done a good job and she’s the same as The Odyssey, she’ll have a jump-out and then look to have a trial at Ellerslie.”

View the full article