Horse racing: Emerging stars set to shine in Marton Cup

Gobstopper leave their rivals in the New Zealand Cup.Picture / Race Images

With possible vulnerability around the established topweights, the way could be clear for a pair of emerging staying stars to grab the money in tomorrow's $55,000 Marton Cup at Awapuni.

Gravano and Seraphim have promised for some time to burst into the open class headlines and the timing is right.

Gravano will relish the step up to a middle distance. Two back he finished fifth, 1.1 lengths from Hiflyer with Splurge second in the group three Eagle Technology Stakes at Ellerslie. Subsequently, he went back to the same 1600m at Te Rapa and raced a fraction one-paced at the distance, but was less than two lengths from the winner. He will be ready for the 2100m this time.

Being by Rip Van Winkle from the great Melbourne Cup winner Ethereal, Seraphim surprises no one in showing real form as she develops her strength. The wins in her last two races in easier company than this has left little doubt she is ready to step up. She looks well-placed on 53kg to trouble those at the top of the handicap.

The main issue will be the weather. If the forecast is half right we are looking at a slow to heavy track.

Topweight but one, Gobstopper was given a short break after his remarkable New Zealand Cup victory.

Trainer Andrew Campbell is happy with his talented stayer but wonders if he is quite ready to carry 58.5kg over 2100m without a lead-up. "He's very well though and he's come through the trip south in great heart."

Blathwayt has got himself into a tough spot in the handicap in races such as this.

Under his 60kg he found it too tough to concede Clarify 6kg in the Cup on this track on December 23, but he fought well. Under the same weight he faces a similar problem this time.

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Cambridge trainer Tony Pike is heading north to Ruakaka tomorrow with seven runners and rates Sacred Party as his best chance.

The Excelebration three-year-old will line up in the Remembering Ila Johnson (Grandma J) (1600m) and Pike believes improved racing manners will see him better his last-start third at Tauranga.

"Sacred Party is a nice progressive horse," he said. "He'd have to beat Donna Logan and Chris Gibbs' Tavistock horse Tavlin, but he has been a work in progress. I think he is one of my better chances for the day."

Other runners that he expects strong runs from include Walkin' By in the NZB Insurance Pearl Series (1200m) and Poppy Star in The Whangaripo Valley Free Range Egg Cup (1600m).

"Walkin' By has had good form, she ran second behind quite a smart horse at Matamata," Pike said. "Poppy Star is in solid form. She was strong finishing third last start over 1400m at Matamata and the step up to 1600m should suit her."

For one at longer odds, Pike suggests punters consider debutant Okoto in the Trigg Construction (1400m). "I have got a filly in the last called Okoto by Savabeel. She's a nice big staying filly. She's had only one barrier trial but she's talented." additional reporting, NZ Racing Desk