Marasco May Not Go The Distance
The Sunday Age
Sunday September 23, 2007
AS MATCH-RACES go it was a fizzer, but as a guide to the Cox Plate yesterday's group 1 Underwood Stakes could have been most telling as doubts linger as to whether Perth star Marasco can run out the 2040 metres at Moonee Valley in five weeks.
Rubiscent, at odds of $41, yesterday upstaged the two fancied runners in Miss Finland and Marasco, but while Miss Finland battled gamely for second after a torrid run, Marasco loomed up but wilted in the final 200 metres of the 1800-metre contest to finish third, in front of the luckless mare Eskimo Queen.The group 1 Turnbull Stakes at Flemington in two weeks now shapes as the crucial race for the $3 million Cox Plate as the first four favourites - Miss Finland, Marasco, El Segundo and Haradasun - will clash in what promises to be a thrilling preview three weeks before the grand final.Marasco's trainer, Fred Kersley, was short and sharp in his summation. "He was nothing flash," he said. "They found him out good and proper."The Miss Finland camp was disappointed, according to trainer David Hayes, but remained upbeat. "I hate it when she loses but she has had valid excuses in all her defeats. She never got in close at all and was in lane eight for the whole race today and Craig (Williams) said she bumped three times with Marasco in the run."The Underwood could also have supplied the Caulfield Cup winner as jockey Craig Newitt and trainer Mike Moroney were adamant that Queensland Oaks winner Eskimo Queen should have won.COX PLATE MARKET$3.20 Miss Finland$4.60 El Segundo$5.50 Marasco$6 Haradasun$13 Efficient$15 Zipping$21 Seachange, Divine Madonna$26+ OthersOdds from Betstar
© 2007 The Sunday Age
