Veteran mare Fleur Du Marquis put up an outstanding performance to finish a half-head second to Rollindowntheriver at Gloucester Park on Tuesday evening and reinsman Kyle Harper is aiming to go one better and steer the seven-year-old to victory in the $23,000 Noel Mulholland Pace over 2130m on Friday night.
Fleur Du Marquis, trained in Collie by Bianca Ashcroft, will start from the prized No. 1 barrier and Harper said: “Plan A will be to lead. She was probably one run away from her peak tonight and she should be close to her best on Friday.”
Fleur Du Marquis began speedily from barrier four but was unable to cross The Wildcard, who resisted the challenge and sped over the lead time in the 1730m event in 7.7sec. and the opening 400m section in a sizzling 27.1sec.
The Wildcard, and Fleur Du Marquis, in the breeze and still locked in battle, careered away from their rivals and had opened up gap of twelve lengths on their rivals at the bell. Fleur Du Marquis eventually gained the upper hand on the home turn, but just failed to hold out Rollindowntheriver, who had enjoyed a favourable passage in the one-wide line. The winner rated a smart 1.55.
Fleur Du Marquis was brought to the course by Bianca Ashcroft’s father Errol because she was committed to her job in Collie as a machinist in the canvas industry.
“Two runs in a week will be fine for Fleur Du Marquis because she is fresh,” said Errol Ashcroft. “This was a pipe opener for Friday’s race. She can run 28sec. every quarter.”
Errol Ashcroft will again be in charge of Fleur Du Marquis and stablemate Pocketful Of Opals (who will start from barrier one in the Our Nini Eileen Mary Pace) on Friday while his daughter will be looking after My Grand Angus and Nevertellmetheodds when they compete in race three at the Wagin meeting.
“My Grand Angus (to be driven by Ajay Markham) has got a good chance of winning after he was super in trackwork this morning (Tuesday) when he almost beat Pocketful Of Opals,” said Errol Ashcroft.
Fleur Du Marquis has been a wonderful money-spinner, having had 120 starts for 17 wins, 36 placings and $157,982, and the hardest for her to beat on Friday night appear to be Henley Brook trainer Mike Reed’s four-year-olds Dark Eyes (Shannon Suvaljko; barrier seven) and Quinton (Callan Suvaljko; barrier eight).
