Racing: Hail, rain or shine, gelding will start

Cambridge trainer Stephen Marsh (right) is worried about the persistent drizzle but also knows Hawke's Bay weather comes right. PHOTO/FILE

IF a sense of humour is a vital ingredient to success then it'll take some work to keep up with Stephen Marsh in the thoroughbred industry.

But this week the persistent drizzle is a source of consternation for the 35-year-old Cambridge horse trainer who is bringing Ugo Foscolo to show his worth at the $100,000 Sacred Falls Hawke's Bay Guineas in Hastings tomorrow.

"Our concern is the rain but it shouldn't be heavy so he'll get away with just a slower time," says Marsh before the Karaka Millions 3-year-old gelding jumps out of barrier two with Michael Coleman in the saddle.

The slow 9 track, as of yesterday, will test the field of 11 boasting another six horses sporting the "KM" badge in the 3.31pm start over 1400m.

Graduates bought from New Zealand Bloodstock sales have the opportunity to enter as yearlings to win bonus series payments for 2-year-olds and 3-year-olds in million-dollar races in late January.

The son of Zacinto (Great Britain), out of Bequests (NZ) from the Inglewood Stud, has a daunting record.

"He's been unbeaten all his life. Hail, rain or shine Ugo Foscolo will race," says Marsh of Ugo Foscolo who has been nominated for the Sothys 44th New Zealand 2000 Guineas at Riccarton Park, Christchurch, on November 16.

The gelding, a black-type winner, is coming off two wins with Coleman, albeit over 1200m and 1100m "trial-type" races.

"They get on well and are unbeatable together so why change a winning combination," says Marsh of the partnership who won over 1200m on August 27, in the first leg, the Makfi Challenge Stakes race, of the Bostock New Zealand Spring Racing Carnival trilogy.

The forecast is for rain to ease about midday today and offer fine spells, with a chance of showers, tomorrow.

Marsh, who has won a KM race on Ruud Awakening in 2103, says that is not on their radar with Ugo Foscolo.

"The 2000 Guineas is our main attention," says the trainer who last year enjoyed an Indian summer with winners.

He feels Ugo Foscolo's entry in the final leg of the carnival's Livamol Classic meeting race is indicative of the handsome prizemoney as well as the breathing space before the 2000 Guineas.

Marsh prefers to slip the favourites tag on Heroic Valour and jockey Matthew Cameron, under the tutelage of Matamata co-trainers Stephen Autridge and Jamie Richards.

The 3-year-old colt, who will emerge from barrier five, is "unbeaten on paper" and won a Group One title in March in Auckland.

"He'll take a lot of beating," says Marsh who doesn't think the barriers will matter much for the pair but those in the seven to nine range will not be in an "ideal" position.

He says Ugo Fuscolo is a slow maturer but six months from now he'll be at his peak.

It's Marsh's eighth year of training from Cambridge but 11 all up since he learned his trade from his father, Bruce Marsh, who is plying his trade in Singapore.

"He's left me around here to do the small things," says Stephen Marsh with a laugh when asked if he too will gravitate towards Indo-China.

"I'm hoping to stay in New Zealand. If the prizemoney goes up soon it'll be good news."

Hastings trainer John Bary also is in the line up with O'Reilly's Choice and Johnathan Parkes coming out of barrier nine.

"We're the local hopefuls," says Bary of his 3-year-old colt, accepting the other two combinations are the favourites.

However, he believes O'Reilly's Choice is coming into the HB Guineas with a gradual build up under his belt.

"It's nice going into a group of races match fit with a horse as race trainer and having no excuses for 3-year-olds in New Zealand," he says, emphasising Ugo Foscolo hasn't had that continuity here.

Bary will be satisfied if his colt finishes in the top five on a nice home course leading to the 2000 Guineas.

Parkes and Jonathan Riddell shared rides on him in the first two legs because suitability of weight dictated it.