In-form short course performer Mercurial has been given the green light for another crack at a major prize on Saturday.
Trainer Stephen Marsh can't fault his genuine son of Burgundy, who will take his place in the Group 1 Telegraph (1200m) at Trentham where he has previously been successful.
The five-year-old will be one of a quartet of elite level contenders Marsh sends south with Double Vision, Nikaia and Sinhaman to chase top age group honours in the Group 1 Levin Classic (1600m).
Mercurial has held his form admirably this preparation with an open handicap win and three placings from his last five starts, including a third in the Group 3 Spring Sprint (1400m) and most notably a last-start third in the Group 1 Railway (1200m).
“I thought he was great, he's probably not ideally suited to weight-for-age but he is racing super well and he has come through that run extra well,” Marsh said.
“We thought we may as well have another throw at the stumps. He is just one of those really honest horses and he's won down at Trentham before.”
Marsh will have a decent hand in the three-year-old race with a trio of lightly raced contenders, including Double Vision who had a couple of placings to his credit before the Darci Brahma gelding led all the way to comfortably break his maiden over 1400m at Tauranga.
“Double Vision was very good last start and he's a progressive sort who will appreciate the step up to a mile,” he said.
“NIkaia's last win was also extra good and she's trained on well since then,” Marsh said.
The Ardrossan filly placed at Te Rapa at her second appearance and then went to Otaki where she overcame an awkward start to open her account.
“Sinhaman went over 1400m last time and he needs a mile and a big track at Trentham will suit him,” Marsh said.
By Tivaci, Sinhaman was successful at Rotorua before he finished runner-up against older opposition at Te Rapa was out of the money in his most recent appearance in the Group 2 Auckland Guineas (1400m).
“There's good depth at the top of the field and then it evens up so all three of mine deserve a crack,” Marsh said.
He is also confident of a bold showing from Waikato Stud's Savabeel mare Mazzolino, who is in foal to Super Seth, in the Group 3 Trentham Stakes (2100m).
Successful in last season's Group 3 Desert Gold Stakes and a multiple black type placegetter, she will take a significant down in class after her solid performance for fourth in the Group 1 Zabeel Classic (2050m).
“She's back from weight-for-age to set weights and penalties, it won't be as strong as the Group One and she went very creditably in that, I think she'll be a strong chance,” Marsh said.
He also offered his thoughts on the stable's best midweek prospects at two northern venues.
“We've got a nice, progressive filly called El Amor and she looks a good each way chance,” he said.
A last-start runner-up, El Amor runs at Matamata on Wednesday.
“I really like our two in the Rating 75 at Tauranga on Friday, Academy Award and Financier. They look our best chances there,” he said.
Academy Award came off a Te Rapa win to run a solid third at Pukekohe on Boxing Day while Financier hasn't raced since he was successful at Hastings during the spring carnival.