Epsom next for Well Written
Stephen Marsh believes Well Written (Written Tycoon) is only getting started after the New Zealand Horse of the Year made a winning return at Ellerslie on Saturday.
The four-year-old showed her class and determination to reel in Alabama Lass (Alabama Express) in the straight before drawing clear to score by nearly two lengths in the Gr.1 Proisir Plate (1400m).
“It was pretty awesome,” Marsh told Sport Nation’s Scotty & Izzy.
“It was a great feeling to have her back at the races and obviously a better feeling seeing her salute and stay unbeaten. It was a real thrill for the whole team.”
Well Written’s class came to the fore late in the race, with Marsh admitting there was a stage when he wondered whether Alabama Lass had established a winning advantage.
“I thought, geez, we might struggle to peg her back,” he said.
“But I love the way she went from looking like she was either going to be beaten by a neck or get up by a neck, to winning by nearly two lengths.”
Marsh took further encouragement from the fact Well Written was resuming after two trials, to defeat Alabama Lass and Well Written’s stablemates Media World (Written Tycoon) (3rd) and Tardelli (I An Invincible) (4th), with that trio all having the benefit of running in the Gr.2 Foxbridge Plate (1200m).
“The second, third and fourth horses have all had runs this time in,” he said.
“We’re a four-year-old, we’re not the fully furnished product, we’re fresh-up after two trials, so just natural fitness, match fitness, all of the above.
“I think she’s got certainly a fair bit of improvement in her.”
The Gr.1 Epsom Handicap (1600m) at Randwick is now the next major target for Well Written, followed three weeks later by the A$10 million Gr.1 Golden Eagle (1500m) at the same venue.
Marsh intends to keep Well Written in New Zealand until Epsom week before travelling to Sydney.
“This week’s all about just getting her over the run, which she seems to have done brilliantly anyway,” he said.
“She won’t do much this week, just keeping her happy and making sure everything’s perfect.”
Marsh plans to give Well Written time to settle into her new surroundings following the Epsom before building towards the Golden Eagle.
The Cambridge trainer was also delighted with his stable’s overall performance in the Proisir Plate.
“I was very proud of our runners, having three in the Group One running first, third and fourth is terrific,” Marsh said. – Trackside.co.nz
