Well Written “amazing” ahead of Proisir Plate
It’s just over a week out from the Gr.1 Proisir Plate (1400m) at Ellerslie, and trainer Stephen Marsh couldn’t be any happier with hot favourite Well Written (Written Tycoon).
The unbeaten mare is set to kick-off her spring preparation in the $400,000 feature and had a look at the Auckland track on Thursday morning in a gallop alongside stablemate Little Black Dress (Snitzel), and Marsh was rapt with what he saw.
“I thought she galloped up amazing,” Marsh said. “They didn’t go hard but just came home beautiful. Matt Cartwright (jockey) said it was as good as he has ever felt her. She feels stronger. He was over the moon and so were we.
“I think she is coming up really well and looks great. Today’s gallop was everything we wanted to see.”
Marsh was just as pleased with the surface of the track, and he can’t wait to race on it next week.
“The track was beautiful, and it was great to be back at Ellerslie – geez it’s a good track,” he said.
“Everything galloped on the outside, but Well Written and Little Black Dress were able to gallop on the rail, and they hardly even marked it, it was in such good order.”
Marsh said he is taking a quiet approach with Little Black Dress’ return this spring, with the daughter of Snitzel having a busy schedule last season, which netted placings in the Gr.3 Sunline Vase (1400m), Gr.2 Soliloquy Stakes (1400m) and Gr.3 Cambridge Breeders’ Stakes (1200m), and a fourth placing against the boys in the Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m).
“Little Black Dress had a big campaign at three,” Marsh said. “She ran in both Guineas races and then spelled and then ran through the autumn.
“We are bringing her up nice and slowly. We are going to give her a trial in a couple of weeks at Ellerslie and then look at getting her to the races from there. There are no set plans with her, but she is coming up super.”
Marsh also galloped reigning New Zealand Horse of the Year El Vencedor (NZ) (Shocking) at Ellerslie on Thursday, and he said he is on track to tackle the Gr.1 Howden Insurance Mile (1600m) first-up next month.
“Michael McNab galloped him and said he has come on a lot from his trial,” Marsh said. “He will trial up there (Ellerslie) on the 15th (of September) and at this stage it looks like we will kick him off in the middle day of Hawke’s Bay.”
Meanwhile, Marsh has been rapt with the way both Media World (Written Tycoon) and Tardelli (I Am Invincible) have come through their second and fifth placed runs respectively in last Saturday’s Gr.2 Foxbridge Plate (1200m) at Te Rapa.
While Media World is guaranteed a start in next week’s Proisir Plate, Marsh is having to play the waiting game with Tardelli, who requires one withdrawal to make the 16-horse field.
“I thought Media World went great and he has come on from that really well,” Marsh said. “I think 1400m second-up is perfect for him.
“I thought Tardelli was a real eye-catcher the other day, I thought he was brilliant. He deserves his spot, he is going really well.”
Well Written heads the TAB’s futures market for the Proisir Plate at $2, ahead of Alabama Lass (Alabama Express) and First Five (NZ) (Almanzor) at $5, while Media World and Tardelli are currently $16 and $21, respectively. - Joshua Smith
Mr Miller on Epsom mission
Exciting four-year-old Mr Miller (NZ) (Alamanzor) will take another step towards a potential Gr.1 Epsom Handicap (1600m) tilt when he lines up at Rosehill on Saturday.
The lightly-raced son of Almanzor will contest the Bankstown Sports Handicap (1500m), with Tommy Berry taking the ride as trainer Chris Waller attempts to lift the gelding’s rating sufficiently to secure a place in the A$1.5 million feature at Randwick on October 3.
Mr Miller created a big impression when resuming over 1400m at Warwick Farm last week, cruising to a two-and-a-half-length victory under James McDonald.
The performance took his record to two wins and two seconds from just four starts since joining the Waller stable and reinforced the high opinion held of him by his connections.
“He was awesome first-up,” Waller said. “It is a quick turnaround in only 10 days, but he didn't have a tough run at all.
“He's an Epsom horse, and that is why we are running on Saturday. We have got to try and get his rating up and get some prizemoney in the bank as well.”
Prominent owner Ozzie Kheir, who heads the ownership group, is equally enthusiastic about Mr Miller’s prospects, although he acknowledged the gelding faces a race against time to qualify for the Epsom.
“I think if he gets in, he will start top five in an Epsom market,” Kheir said.
“I don’t want to get too carried away, because he has only won a Benchmark 72, but there has been a lot of hype about him.
“He is running on Saturday, and I think he will go out and just win. He needs to get his rating up.
“We are rushing to get him there and he is probably a 50-50 chance of actually getting into the race. He is a nice horse and we have a big opinion of him.”
Bred by Graham and Helen-Gaye Bax of Blandford Lodge, Mr Miller is by Cambridge Stud stallion Almanzor out of the winning Pins mare Miss Miller.
He was offered through Blandford Lodge’s draft at the 2024 New Zealand Bloodstock Book 1 Yearling Sale at Karaka, where he failed to meet his $80,000 reserve.
Mr Miller subsequently remained in New Zealand and was purchased privately by Kheir and his partners after catching the eye in a Taupo trial before joining Waller’s Sydney stable.
Meanwhile, Kheir said a decision on the future of fellow former New Zealand-trained galloper Leica Lucy (NZ) (Derryn) is imminent.
The daughter of Derryn has been multiple Group One-placed since joining Waller, including finishing runner-up to Pride Of Jenni (Pride Of Dubai) in the Gr.1 Empire Rose Stakes (1600m), but has had her progress hampered by ongoing issues.
Prior to transferring to Australia, Leica Lucy enjoyed an outstanding three-year-old season for New Plymouth trainer Robbie Patterson, winning the Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m) along with multiple Group Two races.
“She has just had issues from day one. Chris has had to manage that. It is probably why she doesn’t seem to run straight,” Kheir said.
“The decision we are making at the moment is whether we push on with her to the autumn or retire her.
“She has been a good horse for us. She has won a Group One and a couple of Group Twos, so we can't complain about what she has done for the group.” - NZ Racing Desk
Fast Network breaks new ground in Japan
New Zealand-bred sprinter Fast Network (NZ) (Wrote) will break new ground for trainer Dennis Yip when he begins a two-race Japanese campaign in next month’s Gr.2 Centaur Stakes (1200m) at Hanshin.
The six-year-old son of Wrote flew to Japan on Tuesday and will make his first appearance abroad in the September 6 feature before progressing to the Gr.1 Sprinters Stakes (1200m) at Nakayama on September 27.
The campaign will also mark Yip’s first runner outside Hong Kong, Conghua or Macau in his own right.
Fast Network was initially being aimed at the Gr.1 Al Quoz Sprint (1200m) in Dubai earlier this year, but uncertainty in the Middle East prompted Yip to change tack and instead target Japan.
A seven-time winner from 20 starts, Fast Network has established himself among Hong Kong’s leading sprinters, including twice finishing Group One-placed behind champion Ka Ying Rising (NZ) (Shamexpress). His biggest victory came in last year’s Gr.3 National Day Cup Handicap (1000m) at Sha Tin.
“He will have two races because it’s early season in Hong Kong and he’s only had one barrier trial,” Yip said.
“In Japan, he can only work by himself. The other horses won’t be with him and he also won’t be able to trial there.
“I refreshed him and his form is coming very good. He will be even better after the recent trial. He’ll run in the Group Two first and then on the 27th.”
Fast Network completed his final serious piece of work in Hong Kong with a 1200m trial at Sha Tin last Friday, where he was restrained at the rear by Matthew Poon before closing strongly to finish fourth.
He has not raced since finishing fourth behind Ka Ying Rising in the Gr.1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize (1200m) at Sha Tin in April.
Yip elected to bypass opportunities later in the Hong Kong season and instead sent Fast Network for an early break at Conghua with an overseas campaign in mind.
“Fast Network had a few hard races last season, so I let him rest earlier. Now he’s refreshed,” Yip said.
“I think he’ll run well. Then we will go straight to the Group One. Hong Kong has an outstanding champion, Ka Ying Rising, and it’s difficult to catch him.”
Fast Network was bred by Highview Stud and was purchased by Wexford Stables for $30,000 from Highview’s draft at the 2022 New Zealand Bloodstock Book 2 Yearling Sale.
Originally named Donnie Malone, the son of Wrote showed promise in New Zealand, winning a trial at Te Rapa for Wexford trainers Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott before being sold to Hong Kong.
Yip, who was crowned Hong Kong Champion Trainer in the 2012-13 season, enjoyed one of his biggest successes when Massive Sovereign (No Nay Never) won the 2024 Hong Kong Derby (2000m). - Hong Kong Jockey Club
Joshua Smith
Joshua Smith
Paul Vettise
Joshua Smith
New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing
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