Marketplace - After winning the 2026 Wondais Mate
YOUNG Kiwi star Marketplace is right on target for his first big Aussie mission.
Regan Todd’s four-year-old cruised to victory in last night’s Wondais Mate Pace against older rivals with the ear plugs still in place.
The only real surprise came at the start when former Rising Sun winner Wisper A Secret scorched out of gate five and crossed Marketplace from gate two in the charge to the first bend.
Driver Luke McCarthy quickly came back around the leader and took Marketplace to the front again at his final lead-up run for next Saturday night’s $300,000 Group 1 Rising Sun (2138m).
Marketplace then cruised through a 57.4 first half before dashing home in 54.8 and 26.5sec to beat Wisper A Secret under a grip by 3.5m in a 1min52.2sec mile rate for 1660m.
“I’m bloody happy after that,” Todd said. “Everything said he’d thrived since that hard first-up run at Menangle and it’s great to see him come out and show it.
“Luke was really happy with him and didn’t pull the plugs.
“It’s a long way to come, but I couldn’t be happier with how it’s gone so far. We just need another good week now.”
But Todd knows the enormity of the challenge next week.
“What a race it’s going to be,” he said. “You watch some of the horses winning (support) races tonight that are going onto the Rising Sun and realise how strong it’s going to be.
“It will be an unreal field and so exciting to be part of it.
“It’s great for the carnival up here to have a race that good to really kick it all off.”
The Rising Sun is a preferential draw, meaning three year-olds and four-year-old mares, like favourite Captains Mistress, will draw inside Marketplace.
“Everyone’s saying they hope we draw the front row, but watching how strongly contested the racing is here, I wouldn’t mind sitting off them and using his speed late,” he said.
“Even if Captains Mistress does lead, the pressure will be on. That’s just how the racing is up here.”
Former Kiwi three-year-old Nymbal put his name up for a Rising Sun berth with his second Aussie wins from as many starts for new trainers Kerry Ann and Robbie Morris.
He stormed home to win last week’s Redcliffe Derby, then led and took a sit on buzz three-year-old Yottie before easily running him down late.
Other likely Rising Sun runners to win well at Albion Park last night include mare Cool And Classy and talented NSW raiders Double Lou and Hesitate.
Waiting at home for next week are the likes of Australia’s best three-year-old Hollywood Strip, last week’s Redcliffe Cup winner Final Deadline and last year’s TAB Eureka runner-up Fox Dan.
What a race!
Remembering, the winner of the Rising Sun gets a golden ticket into the $1 million Inter Dominion final on July 18 should connections wish to accept it.
That is unlikely to be the case with Marketplace.
“It’s not in the plans, but we just want to focus on next week,” Todd said.
PHOTO: Toby Coutts
