Panna Cotta makes it five for the week for Marsh

13 March 2015

Cambridge trainer Stephen Marsh wrapped up a deeply satisfying Auckland Cup Week campaign when Panna Cotta took out the last race of the three-day carnival at Ellerslie last Saturday.

The four-year-old Pins mare made it five wins for the week for the Marsh stable that included a victory in the Gr. 3 Sunline Vase on Auckland Cup day with Wellfield New Zealand Oaks contender Thee Auld Floozie.

“It has been a really good week for us and I’m delighted to see this mare bounce back to form after some average runs earlier in her campaign,” said Marsh.

“She has had a few niggles and developed a cough after her last run at the start of January so we have taken it slowly with her and that patience has paid off handsomely.

“I thought it was a really good win as she copped a couple of bumps in the run home but stuck to her guns nicely to get the win.”

Marsh was also delighted with the run of his top notch juvenile Rocanto who finished third in the Gr. 1 Haunui Farm Diamond Stakes earlier in the day.

“I thought he put in a really good effort to grab third as he just doesn’t seem to be as good when he is going right-handed,” he noted.

“As long as he comes through the race well he will go to Awapuni for the Sires Produce where back to racing left-handed he should be a major threat.”

Marsh will now turn his attention to Trentham this Saturday where he will have runners in two of the feature events on the card.

“Thee Auld Floozie has come through her run in the Sunline Vase superbly so she will tackle the Oaks this weekend as will Stars In Align provided she can sneak into the field,” he reported.

“I’m also taking Oceania and Procurement for the Cuddle Stakes as they both deserve a shot at getting some black type on their records.”- NZ Racing Desk

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