BOOM Kiwi pacer Marketplace has turned heads before steps out for his first Australian start.
The Regan Todd-trained four-year-old, who boasts 13 wins from 23 starts including four at Group 1 level, sparkled in a Menangle trial today.
Marketplace led from gate three before driver Luke McCarthy took a sit on the talented Ubetcha Tigerpie.
McCarthy eased around the leader at the top of the straight and Marketplace cruised to 1.4m win without being extended.
He was timed to run his own closing splits in 53.2 and 25.8sec at the end of a 1min50.1sec mile.
It was a great sign given Marketplace hasn’t raced since winning the Group 2 Superstars at Addington on May 8.
Todd plans to give Marketplace his first Aussie run at Menangle next Saturday night in a 2300m free-for-all.
That leaves the door open for a second lead-up race ahead of his lone major target, the $300,000 Group 1 Rising Sun at Albion Park on July 4.
Marketplace could clash with another key Rising Sun contender, star three-year-old Hollywood Strip, in the Saturday week’s Menangle race.
PHOTO: HRNZ/Race Images NZ
