In-form Marroni can add to expense account

[Wandering Eyes]

Marroni will contest the Group 3 Easter Handicap (1600m) at Pukekohe on Saturday. Photo: Race Images

Marroni gets an opportunity at Pukekohe on Saturday to further add to his travelling fund when he chases a deserved victory.

The son of Makfi has finished runner-up in both appearances this preparation and will bid to go one better in the Group 3 Easter Handicap (1600m) under 60kg while stablemate White Noise is at the other end of the scale with 54.5kg.

To be ridden by Opie Bosson, Marroni is booked on a flight to Australia next week and is in good touch following his resuming second at Te Rapa and then beat all but Brando in the Group 2 Japan Trophy (1600m) at Tauranga.

“He’s poorly weighted and was really well weighted last start. It’s the race we’ve kept him fresh for, but it isn’t ideal going from set weights and penalties to being a clear topweight,” trainer Andrew Forsman said.

“He is very capable though and in spite of the weight I think he will be competitive on a reasonable surface.

“White Noise was really good last start too and just came to the end of his run. He is one who is well-weighted and a bit of give in the track certainly helps him.”

The dual stakes winner, who returned from a break earlier this month to run third over 1400m on the course, will carry 54.5kg with Michael McNab to guide his fortunes.

Lack of opportunities have resulted in Marroni’s connections looking offshore with the six-year-old.

“He will be on a plane next Wednesday, there’s just no races for him here with his place in the handicap,” Forsman said.

“He’ll campaign in Melbourne in the next couple of months, pretty much every week there is a Benchmark 100 or an open 1600 or 1800m race for him.”

A stablemate with a lesser profile also touched down in Melbourne on Wednesday.

“Privileged Son is a one-win horse and will chip away in staying races and see if he is competitive,” Forsman said.

He will also be represented by a trio of three-year-olds in the Group 3 Trelawney Stud Championship Stakes (2000m) at Pukekohe with last-start Armino, Imarichgirl and Sassyness to go head-to-head.

“Armino needs good ground and has been a bit immature. The blinkers and the good track helped him at Tauranga and we would like to run him, but it will come down to track conditions,” he said.

He will be ridden by Sam Spratt while Craig Grylls is booked for Imarichgirl and Wiremu Pin is on Sassyness.

“Every time we have stepped Imarichgirl up in trip it hasn’t quite happened for her, but rain would certainly help her a lot and she seems to be bit more effective right-handed,” Forsman said.

“She likes Pukekohe and her run last start was very good and Sassyness would need rain as well. Physically, she’s not quite there and got a bit of strengthening to do and I think she’ll be better as a four-year-old.”

Riproar was nominated for the Listed Champagne Stakes (1600m), but he has instead gone for a break.

“We decided that running him at a mile would be a bit tough and he’ll got to the paddock and come back for the spring,” Forsman said.

The half-brother by Charm Spirit to stakes-winning stablemate Mr Maestro won at Rotorua last month before he was unplaced in the Group 1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m).

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