First starter Marcado provided plenty of joy for trainer Steve Richards when he led all of the way to win the Listed $100,000 Talindert Stakes (1100m) at Flemington today.
Marcado scores first up win in the Talindert Stakes. Photo by Race Horse Photos Australia.
The $90,000 New Zealand yearling purchase has provided Richards with a welcome change of luck with the Flemington trainer struggling to find words at the post race interview.
“I’ve had a bad year,” Richards said.
“I put a lot of lot of work into this horse. A lot of good clients and thanks to Steven King and the team. Hopefully on with it through 2014.”
“We sacrificed a hell of a lot for this horse. I didn’t go to the sales, I stayed at home. I couldn’t leave this horse.
“I have lived with this horse and we pulled it off today. I’m rapt for the owners.”
King had Marcado quickly out of the gates and took up the running down the middle of the straight course before letting the Choisir two year old drift back to the inside rail.
When King found the fence and got Marcado ($11) balanced up, the youngster was able to hold off the strong finish of Orujo ($6) and Lady Sharapova ($3.60 favourite).
Marcado scored a comfortable three quarters of a length win over the Orujo from the Peter Snowden stable who had previous race experience after finishing fifth over 1000m at Caulfield back in November.
Third placegetter and race favourite Lady Sharapova was well supported in the betting ring on the strength of a good Rosehill barrier trial in the early part of the season and is certain to be improved with the run today.
Lady Sharpova’s third prizemoney cheque of $10,800 is a start for the owners to recuperating their initial outlay for the Fastnet Rock filly who cost $800,000 at the 2013 Australian Easter Yearlinng Sales.
Richards has no regrets about missing next week’s Group 1 $1m Sportingbet Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield with Marcado and will concentrate on the Group 2 $220,000 Henry Bucks Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) at Flemington on March 8.
