Waikato Stud-bred Oaks hope ready to go

Promising staying filly Mark Two won’t race again before her autumn Group One target. Trainer Stephen Marsh has ruled out another appearance for the Waikato Stud-bred and sold daughter of Pins ahead of the Group 1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand Oaks (2400m) on March 17.

“Mark Two has already raced second-up over 2000m and she found that easy enough,” the Cambridge conditioner said. “She’s a very good filly and she can get there on a limited preparation, it won’t worry her at all.”

Mark Two was a debut second over 1600m at Tauranga in December and showed her quality at her following start when a close fourth in the Group 2 Royal Stakes (2000m) at Ellerslie on New Year’s Day. She then came from the tail of the field to finish runner-up behind Dijon Bleu in Saturday’s Group 2 Sir Tristram Fillies’ Classic (2000m) at Te Rapa. “It was a great run and my horse would be a good thing in a maiden 2000m at her next start, but she’s doing it all on her first preparation,” Marsh said. “I don’t need to run her again, she’ll be ready.”

She is a sister to the Group 3 Eulogy Stakes winner Whistling Dixie, with their dam the Danasinga mare Zephyr Song. Mark Two was purchased at Karaka in 2016 by Go Racing for $150,000.