Melbourne in mind for undefeated juvenile

[Wandering Eyes]

Connections of stakes winning two-year-old Codigo (NZ) (Ardrossan) are considering a trip to Australia next month for their unbeaten youngster.

They are mulling over a hit and run mission for the son of Ardrossan, who was given a break after winning both of his summer starts and showed he had come back in good order with a trial success this week.

“We’ll see how he is in the next few days, but we’re thinking he could nip over to Melbourne for just one run as there’s not a lot here for him,” trainer Stephen Marsh said.

“It’s a bit up in the air at the moment, but there is a nice 1200m race at Flemington on June 3.

“Whether he goes there or not, we’ll be giving him a pretty light prep and that will set him up for his three-year-old season.”

He made the perfect start to his career with a debut victory at Matamata in January and 11 days later claimed the Listed Wellesley Stakes (1100m) at Trentham where subsequent Gr.1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) winner Pignan finished third.

Codigo is raced by his breeder Dame Lowell Goddard with Waikato Stud and had the honour of providing his sire Ardrossan, who stands at the Matamata nursery, with both his first winner and first at black-type level.

Codigo winning the Listed Wellesley Stakes (1100m) in January
Photo: Race Images Palmerston North

Marsh prepared Ardrossan to win four of his nine starts, including the Gr.3 Concorde Handicap (1200m) and the Listed Waikato Equine Veterinary Centre Stakes (1100m).

The son of Redoute’s Choice also finished third in the Gr.1 BCD Group Sprint (1400m) and the Gr.3 Star Kingdom Handicap (1200m).

Marsh is understandably a big fan of Ardrossan’s progeny, having also won a two-year-old race at Trentham this season with Sako, another first crop representative of the stallion.

“They are good, athletic types and seem so natural. They aren’t one dimensional either, he’s also had a stakes winner (Loch Katrine) over a mile (Listed Champagne Stakes, 1600m) so he’s really doing the job,” he said.

Codigo furthered his claims for a trip away with a trial win over 1000m at Avondale on Tuesday.

“The track was obviously very wet and he just knocked up the last bit and he will improve a stack with that run,” Marsh said.

Meanwhile, the stable will be chasing a fifth stakes win for the season at Awapuni on Saturday with Zee Falls (Sacred Falls) to run in the Listed Happy 90^th Birthday Edith Bull Rangitikei Gold Cup (1550m).

The Sacred Falls five-year-old returned after a break to finish a last-start third in an open handicap over 1600m at Te Rapa.

“She was very good first-up and she might just have this one and then a break,” Marsh said.

“She’s going well and is a quality mare and we’re looking forward to the spring with her.”

Marsh will also have multiple runners at Te Rapa on Saturday, including Miss Rockette (NZ) (El Roca) and Abandon (NZ) (Turn Me Loose) in the Jarvis Trading 3YO (1100m).

The former is a daughter of El Roca who has a win and three placings from four appearances and most recently finished a close third in the Gr.3 Cambridge Breeders’ Stakes (1200m).

Turn Me Loose gelding Abandon is another lightly tried performer who has won from a handful of starts.

“Miss Rockette has improved with her last run and she’s a very tidy filly and it’s great that she’s already got black-type,” Marsh said.

“Abandon trialled well the other day and he’s had a few teething problems along the way, but I’m sure he will run very well too.”

Marsh will also have a strong hand in the open sprint at Te Rapa with Mercurial (NZ) (Burgundy), Miss Cartier (NZ) (El Roca), Tightlign (NZ) (Align) and Winning For All (Shooting To Win) to run in the Dunstan Horsefeeds (1300m).

“As long as they don’t get too much rain they will all run. They’re hard to split and are all worthy chances,” he said.

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