Marketplace NZ
The $300,000 Group 1 Rising Sun shapes as an epic and the picture will be a lot clearer after this weekend.
While favourite and champion mare Captains Mistress has the weekend off, some of her hey rivals strut their stuff, headlined by boom Kiwi pacer Marketplace.
The Kiwi has won 13 of his 23 starts, including four at Group 1 level, and is seen as a big part of a new brigade of NZ pacers trying to restore some feature race pride after a few years of Aussie dominance.
The Regan Todd-trained Marketplace makes his Aussie debut from an outside draw in a 2300m free-for-all at Menangle on Saturday night.
Off the back of his fantastic NZ form and a sparkling recent Menangle trial, Marketplace is $1.50 favourite despite facing some classy rivals, headed by Hi Manameisjeff and Ubetcha Tigerpie.
Todd will use the race to determine if Marketplace needs another run before the Rising Sun at Albion Park on July 4.
Champion driver Luke McCarthy has the drive this week and again in the Rising Sun.
“We’ll get him up to Brisbane well ahead of the Rising Sun to have a look at the track, whether that’s in a race, a trial or just a workout,” Todd said.
McCarthy added: “He’s been here (McCarthy’s stable) a few weeks now and seems great. He absolutely jogged in the trial in quick time. He’s a really serious horse.”
At Albion Park on Saturday night, Shannon Price’s four-year-old Final Deadline, defending Rising Sun winner Fate Awaits and Bernie Hewitt’s emerging Sweet On Lexy are other key Rising Sun contenders in action.
Hewitt is also aiming last week’s impressive Albion Park winner Jungle Dragon at the race. He backs up again on Saturday night.
“Jungle Dragon will go there, but there’s a chance could run Sweet On Lexy in the Inter Dominion instead,” Hewitt said.
PHOTO: HRNZ/Race Images NZ
