Sofia Rosa
Race Images Palmerston North
The inclement Sydney weather hasn't put a dampener on Stephen Marsh's dream of a Group One win at Randwick on Saturday.
The Cambridge trainer can't fault the condition of his $A1 million Australian Oaks contender Sofia Rosa, whose chances won't be compromised by the rain-affected going.
"There's been a fair bit of rain here so it's going to be an off track and she won't mind that at all," said Marsh from the Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
The winner of the Gr.2 Royal Stakes and the Gr.3 Lowland Stakes, Sofia Rosa went into the Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks as an even money favourite and crossed the line first.
A subsequent inquiry relegated her to second behind Fanatic and while understandably disappointed, Marsh didn't have any complaints.
"It happened close to the line, but our filly definitely shifted out," he said.
However, Sofia Rosa's performance was enough to crown her the NZB Filly of the Year and confirm her passage across the Tasman.
"She travelled over here really well and got through a nice bit of work on Tuesday morning," Marsh said.
"She's done very well and stretched her legs at three quarter pace from the 1500 and quickened the last bit.
"She tightened up with the trip over here so she doesn't need to do a lot. I'm very happy with her and having Hugh Bowman booked for the ride is another big plus."
Meanwhile, Marsh is sweating on a start for Sofia Rosa's stablemate No More Tears, who is the first emergency for the Gr.2 Sapphire Stakes.
"With the rail out three metres they cut the field size back to 14," he said.
Tommy Berry will ride the last-start Gr.3 Mr Tiz Trophy winner if she gets a run in the 1200 metre event. – NZ Racing Desk.
The Cambridge trainer can't fault the condition of his $A1 million Australian Oaks contender Sofia Rosa, whose chances won't be compromised by the rain-affected going.
"There's been a fair bit of rain here so it's going to be an off track and she won't mind that at all," said Marsh from the Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
The winner of the Gr.2 Royal Stakes and the Gr.3 Lowland Stakes, Sofia Rosa went into the Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks as an even money favourite and crossed the line first.
A subsequent inquiry relegated her to second behind Fanatic and while understandably disappointed, Marsh didn't have any complaints.
"It happened close to the line, but our filly definitely shifted out," he said.
However, Sofia Rosa's performance was enough to crown her the NZB Filly of the Year and confirm her passage across the Tasman.
"She travelled over here really well and got through a nice bit of work on Tuesday morning," Marsh said.
"She's done very well and stretched her legs at three quarter pace from the 1500 and quickened the last bit.
"She tightened up with the trip over here so she doesn't need to do a lot. I'm very happy with her and having Hugh Bowman booked for the ride is another big plus."
Meanwhile, Marsh is sweating on a start for Sofia Rosa's stablemate No More Tears, who is the first emergency for the Gr.2 Sapphire Stakes.
"With the rail out three metres they cut the field size back to 14," he said.
Tommy Berry will ride the last-start Gr.3 Mr Tiz Trophy winner if she gets a run in the 1200 metre event. – NZ Racing Desk.