Renewed Cup claims for Mark Twain
Few expected to see Mark Twain (NZ) (Shocking) return to elite racing this campaign after two years of major injury and form concerns, but his new trainer Phillip Stokes and his team had other thoughts.
Winless for nearly two years, Mark Twain returned to racing for Stokes in late February and immediately delivered a shock when he powered home late at the odds of $101 to finish third behind Birdman in the Gr.2 Blamey Stakes (1600m) at Flemington.
While the performance came as a surprise to most of the racing public, it did not for Stokes and his hard-working team at Pakenham.
Two years ago, Mark Twain produced an astonishing finish from near last to win the Listed Roy Higgins (2600m) on this Flemington program before disaster struck.
He injured a tendon as he was preparing for the 2024 spring and his rehabilitation ended up lasting well over a year.
He made an inglorious start to his return in August of 2025 when he ran last at Te Rapa before he came across to Melbourne to finish last in the Gr.1 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m).
He had four more unplaced runs in Melbourne before being transferred from James’ stables in New Zealand to those of Phillip Stokes at Pakenham.
Stokes’ son Tommy told Racing.com on Tuesday that it was obvious early on in his first preparation for the stable that he was ready to return to his best form and that was confirmed with his Blamey Stakes placing.
"His trackwork had been super leading in," Stokes explained of Mark Twain’s ripping first-up run.
"It is his first preparation with us, but we wanted to see him do it first and he performed really well and obviously the form has been good with Birdman winning (Peter Young Stakes) and it seems to be the right form, too.
"We assessed him quite in depth at the start of the prep and realised that his best runs have been fresh and spaced runs, so we made sure we got him very fit first-up.
"He had a tick-over jumpout a fortnight ago and he’s fresh, well and fit and I think the step-up in trip is going to do him the world of good so we’re quite confident in his chances.
"Obviously, he hasn’t had that run over the 10 furlongs (2000m) but he’s right there.
"He’d be 90 per cent fit now and ready to rock and roll.
"He’s been faultless and been very straight forward actually. Very consistent in his trackwork and that’s given us plenty of confidence.
"He’s a pleasure to do anything with and he does really well in the feed bin so it makes it easier for us.
"When he was in form there and peaking, he can really let down this horse. He loves Flemington and the long straight is definitely beneficial to him.
"We are flying under the radar, we are aware of that, and we are aware it is a quality field but we couldn’t have him in any better order."
Mark Twain has been rated a $26 chance of taking Saturday’s Australian Cup before Wednesday’s final acceptances.
