YOUNG Kiwi horseman Kyle Marshall should build on a fairytale start to his Aussie career at Melton on Friday night.
Marshall, 29, moved across from NZ to train at Cranbourne three months ago and boasts a 60 per cent winning strike rate as both a trainer and driver in that time.
His headline act was always going to be exciting three-year-old Son Of Mac, who ran a close second in the Group 1 Northern Derby behind NZ’s top three-year-old Merlin in Auckland before moving to his new base at the Cranbourne Training Centre.
Son Of Mac will be a commanding favourite to snare his fourth win from as many Aussie runs when he starts from gate two in the seventh race on Friday night. Marshall will also take the reins on Whos Watching Lily for fellow former Kiwi brothers, Craig Jamieson and Tony Jamieson.
“Son Of Mac was really well graded under the handicapping system here, so we’ve been able to pick our way through some suitable races,” Marshall said.
“Even this week he looks to have found another suitable race. He really deserves some easier wins to build his confidence after some hard runs in strong races back in NZ.”
But the “strong” races are looming again for Son Of Mac.
His first feature target is the $200,000 Group 1 Victoria Derby final at Melton on October 14, the same night as the $300,000 Group 1 Victoria Cup.
Then it’s on to the $300,000 Breeders Crown final, also at Melton, on November 25.
“We did look at taking him up to the Queensland Derby (last Saturday night), but it was never the plan. We decided to stick with the plan of giving him a good build-up in Victoria before the Derby here,” Marshall said.
“He’s got this race, then a three-year-old at Melton two weeks later. Then he’ll have 10 days of rest, apart from a swim here and there, and then we’ll prime him for the (Victoria) Derby.”
Marshall watched with great interest and some awe when nominal Victoria Derby favourite and Australia’s most exciting three-year-old, The Lost Storm, toyed with his rivals in the Group 1 Queensland Derby last Saturday night.
“He was very impressive, wasn’t he?” he said. “Still, we think highly of our horses, he’s competed really well against the best in NZ and we’ll look forward to seeing how we stack up against a horse like The Lost Storm in a couple of months.”
Marshall also has his other stable star, unbeaten two-year-old Smoken Ace (gate five), facing by far his biggest test as he chases a fourth win in race four at Ballarat on Saturday night. His major rivals are Emma Stewart and Clayton Tonkin’s Kingman (two) and Nathan Jack’s Bathurst Gold Crown winner Chart Topper (six).
Marshall and partner, Sophie Jefferies, have seen their stable soar with the dream start to their Aussie careers.
“We started with six and have kept picking new horses, including a few yearlings. We’re up to 15 now and absolutely the facilities and, even more so, the people down here at Cranbourne,” Marshall said.
- Adam Hamilton is a paid contributor writing on harness racing for News Corp.
