Grant Peters
Generally the winner of a Brisbane Cup is rarely considered as a genuine spring candidate but trainer Stephen Marsh is adamant Chocante can make a surprising impact - beginning this Saturday in the Chelmsford Stakes at Randwick.
Marsh said on Tuesday that he was staggered at the improvement Chocante has made since his Brisbane Cup romp in June and claimed that he was a genuine chance to fill a placing behind Winx in Saturday's Group Two.
"He's a better horse than he was in Brisbane," Marsh said. "I think the trip over there has matured him and now he's had a little break, he just seems a complete horse now.
"Obviously, it's not a race we think we can win with Winx in it and obviously it's short of his best but it's a good kick-off race for him to get him up over ground."
Chocante has been in Sydney for a few days to prepare for Saturday's test against the world's best turf horse and Marsh said the horse had no problems with his new surroundings.
"He had a gallop on the course proper on Tuesday morning and we certainly can't fault him," he said.
"While I don't expect him to win and he might even struggle to place, but I think he's going to run better than expected and I can't wait to get him over some ground.
"He'll go straight from here to a 2000-metre race and then hopefully onto the Metropolitan."
Much of Marsh's confidence in Chocante stems from a Taupo trial earlier this month where the horse showed a great finishing burst.
"The trial was great. It's the best he's ever gone and it wasn't just a normal trial either. It was full of
black-type horses and some very good black-type horses and for a stayer to do that I thought was top class."
Marsh said while the Metropolitan remained the main target this spring for Chocante, the owners are allowing themselves to dream.
"We'd love to get a run in the Melbourne Cup," he said.
Marsh has another Cups chance at home being readied for New Zealand's first Group One of the season this Saturday - the Tarzino Trophy.
He said Sofia Rosa had come through her preparation in great order.
"I think she's just starting to mature," Marsh said referring to her winless past 18 months. "She's never come up in the spring before but she's never looked this good either. I think she's coming right.
"Her work is good. Everything just seems totally different with her.
"I've actually put a nomination in for the Caulfield Cup for her as well. If she looks likes she comes up really good then we'd fly her over and have a crack. Just the way she's coming up we thought we'd put a little sneak nom in for Caulfield."
As for Saturday, he said Sofia Rosa would need the outing in the 1400-metre race.
"It's going to be a bit short of Sofia Rosa's best and she'd love a bit of rain - it's a Dead 4 there now - a shower of rain could come later in the week or even on the day.
"She'll sprint well fresh but it's definitely short of her best so it's very doubtful she can win."
Marsh thinks he has a winning chance in the race as he will also run Thorndon Mile winner Thee Auld Floozie in the Tarzino.
"She's had a jumpout at Cambridge and one trial and she is probably one that can sprint well fresh," he said.
"She's probably going to be best suited to the middle leg (of the treble) but it wouldn't surprise me if she got some of it because she's come up really good." -racing.com