Stayer Mark Twain writes ticket to the Melbourne Cup
American author Mark Twain wrote of the Melbourne Cup nearly 140 years ago and a horse of the same name could write his own piece of history after a stunning victory at Flemington.
New Zealand-trained Mark Twain came from near last in The Roy Higgins (2600m) on Saturday to claim a ballot exemption into the Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington in November.
The Roy Higgins is one of four Flemington staying races that offers the winner ‘win and you’re in’ status into the Melbourne Cup.
Ridden by Michael Dee, Mark Twain ($9.50) scored a half-length win from Strawberry Rock ($10) with Mostly Cloudy ($7.50) a long neck away third.
The Roy Higgins was Mark Twain’s first start in Victoria after the Roger James and Robert Wellwood-trained stayer raced at The Championships in Sydney last year.
Mark Twain finished tenth in the Australian Derby at Randwick last year, but James said the gelding was not suited on the heavy ground on that occasion.
“It was a bottomless track that day and other than that he has hardly ever blotted his copybook and no doubt that staying is the name of his game, and big tracks,” James said.
James had almost given up on his dream of having Mark Twain earn a start in the Melbourne Cup when he was struggling to keep in touch with the field.
“I can hardly believe that this horse did that today,” James said.
“At the 600 (metre mark) I have all but given up hope. He was flat catching the second-last horse, but the big expanse of Flemington has helped him.
“It was a mighty staying effort, and now that we have a golden ticket, it makes it a lot easier.”
Dee said Mark Twain had been a difficult ride, but the gelding was an out-and-out stayer.
“To be honest, I was just trying to get him around the track,” Dee said.
“We’re here at Flemington and he wanted to hang out on me the whole way and I didn’t have a lot of steering in the straight, but once he finally changed legs and balanced up in the straight, that was when you saw that turn-of-foot.
“He’s certainly got great staying ability and we definitely saw it then.”
More Racing News
The Black Cloud descends on Randwick rivals
Having begun the day questioning how well The Black Cloud had come back this campaign, Joe Pride ended it by labelling her a stakes-class horse in the making. The Proven Thoroughbreds filly took her record to three wins from four starts with a rousing first-up victory in Saturday’s Taylor Construction Handicap (1000m)...
Scarlet Oak wins Roses to earn G1 Queensland Oaks favouritism
Chris Waller has labelled Scarlet Oak a “rising star” after the lightly raced filly staked her Group One Queensland Oaks claims with a classy win over stablemate Mare Of Mt Buller in the Doomben Roses. The filly has come a long way in a short time, making a winning debut in New Zealand in...
Sargent hoping Casual Connection can earn a Brisbane Cup berth
John Sargent is crossing his fingers that Casual Connection’s narrow victory at Randwick will give him a sufficient ratings boost to squeeze into the field for the Brisbane Cup. A renowned trainer of stayers, Sargent saddled up two runners in the two-mile race last year, Essential Sky who finished fifth and Outlandos ninth, and...
Queensland tilt among the options for Neasham 2YO
A belated shot at the Brisbane winter carnival is among the options for lightly raced filly Aemelius after she upstaged a handy field of two-year-olds to win the opening race at Randwick. Having just her second start, the Annabel Neasham-trained youngster, who started at $12 with betting sites, went back to last...
Le Ferrari leads home Lindsay Park quinella at Sandown
A return to Sandown has paid a dividend for Lindsay Park galloper Le Ferrari who led home a one-two finish for Ben, Will and J D Hayes. Le Ferrari over-ran stablemate Rheinberg to claim the Thoroughbred Club Of Australia Handicap (1400m) on Saturday. Ridden by Ben Allen, Le Ferrari ($10) overhauled Rheinberg ($7.50) in the final...
Bois D’Argent upsets rivals in G1 Doomben Cup
Trainer Annabel Neasham has landed a second victory in the Doomben Cup with a horse she said was well over the odds. Imported galloper Bois D’Argent held off a late bid from New Endeavour to follow the win of Zaaki for Neasham in 2021 in the Group 1 2000m weight-for-age contest. Ridden by Blake...
Timely Sandown double for Dan O’Sullivan
The Ballarat stable of Dan O’Sullivan is enjoying a purple patch of form in the metropolitan area which has included a race-to-race double at Sandown. O’Sullivan welcomed back to the winner’s enclosure Way Up High in the Sportsbet Photo Finish Handicap (2400m) before Matriarch Rose took out the Stow Solutions Handicap (1600m) on Saturday. The...
Trip test next for Lady In Pink
A return to Sandown has brought out the best in the Leon and Troy Corstens-trained Lady In Pink who will now be stepped up in trip for a race at Flemington. Lady In Pink took out the Senet Gambling Law Experts Handicap (1600m) on Saturday and will head to Flemington for a 2000m...
Resolute reason for Waller filly to come up Roses
It carries Group Two status, but The Roses will have a distinct Group One feel for trainer Chris Waller as he prepares to saddle up the first Australian runner for John Stewart’s Resolute Racing. The American business tycoon created headlines earlier this year when he announced his intention to make an audacious...
Final roll of the dice for Classic prospects at Randwick
An 1800-metre three-year-old race at Randwick is set to have a bearing on the upcoming Classic races in Queensland with the majority of runners holding a nomination for either the Oaks or Derby. Seventeen horses, four of them emergencies, have been accepted for Saturday’s Wilson Asset Management Handicap and only Invincible...