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
Augustus and Desert Hero debut in Flemington feature
While the Australian Cup Prelude at Flemington doesn't carry the weight of the day's opening races, it has the potential to highlight future stars for major events ahead.Ciaron Maher will launch two newcomers from overseas in the Saturday 2000m race – Augustus and Desert Hero.Desert Hero already has Australian experience,...
Robbie Griffiths plans VRC Sires' Produce Stakes tilt with Almost An Angel
For the youngsters, the VRC Sires' Produce Stakes provides the debut opportunity to tackle a genuine journey.Now that the Blue Diamond Stakes, Victoria's top juvenile prize, has been run and captured last month, attention shifts for the fast two-year-olds to the Golden Slipper up in Sydney.Robbie Griffiths, however, set his...
Ipswich Friday features prepared Sir Maurice
With an advantageous claim on weight and a competitor set for a win, Jack Bruce is eager for Sir Maurice to perform at Ipswich this coming Friday.Marking his fifth run this campaign, the five-year-old offspring of champion Japanese sire Maurice enters the Great Northern Benchmark 65 Handicap (1200m) for an...
Blinkers and McDonald for Hidrix in key Todman Stakes before Golden Slipper
Hidrix, once the top pick for the Golden Slipper, faces two major tweaks for his engagement in the Todman Stakes at Randwick: blinkers fitted and James McDonald in the saddle.Although McDonald guided stable companion Confederation during the Canonbury Stakes (1100m) Hidrix won and the Silver Slipper (1100m), he'll switch to...
Filly Caffe Florian emerges as next talent for Richard Litt
Though Richard Litt runs a modest team in numbers, he has proven adept at pinpointing quality performers.Responsible for training dual Group 1 champion Castelvecchio and Profondo's 2021 Spring Champion Stakes success, the Warwick Farm conditioner now seems to hold a fresh prospect in developing filly Caffe Florian.The three-year-old by Snitzel...
Waller's entrants set for All-Star Mile at Flemington
Leading handler Chris Waller embraces the All-Star Mile format since its promotion to Group 1.Launched back in 2019, the All-Star Mile moved between key Melbourne venues and mirrored Japan's Arima Kinen by letting the public choose their top pick.Changes were implemented in later years, and Waller entered sparingly.Securing Group 1...
Mark Zahra backs Tentyris to overcome weight in Newmarket
Mark Zahra, the jockey, doesn't see the allocated weight for Tentyris as a barrier to the colt capturing the Newmarket Handicap at Flemington.To win the Group 1 1200m event at Flemington on Saturday, Tentyris must replicate the weight record set by Ajax back in 1938.The 57kg impost matches what Fastnet...
Freedman eyes Ninja's mile potential in Randwick Guineas
Michael Freedman counts on Ninja getting forward in the run as an essential element boosting his shot at the Group One Randwick Guineas.Unlike key challengers Autumn Boy and Attica, who prefer to come from off the pace, Ninja showed his flexibility in the Hobartville Stakes (1400m) by tracking the pacesetter...
Experienced Coal Crusher set for Newcastle Stakes challenge
If Coal Crusher maintains his strong connection with the Newcastle venue, he could provide Joe Pride with an excellent beginning to his weekend on a prominent regional racing occasion.On a quick six-day freshen-up from his Liverpool City Cup (1300m) defeat at Randwick, the gelding lines up in Friday's Group 3...
Rawiller's decision spotlights Lady Shenandoah's Canterbury Stakes bid
With Ciaron Maher readying Gringotts for his seasonal reappearance in the Canterbury Stakes at Randwick, another jockey has accidentally boosted the credentials of a prominent rival entrant.Nash Rawiller built an impressive alliance with Gringotts late in his previous campaign, notching successive wins in the Big Dance and The Gong.They were...