Group 2 Superstars will decide Marketplace's Aussie campaign

By Adam Hamilton 

It is a case of one down, one to go for young star Marketplace.

The brilliant four-year-old was last week invited to the $350,000 Group 1 Rising Sun at Albion Park on July 4.

But trainer Regan Todd told Queensland officials he would defer confirming until Marketplace’s first two runs this campaign.

Step one came when the son of Bettors Delight arrogantly put away a small field at Addington last Friday night, ripping home his closing splits in 55 and 27.2sec.

Next comes Friday week’s $60,000 Group 2 Superstars Championship free-for-all (2600m) back at Addington.

“We’re really keen (on Queensland), but it was always pending his two runs here,” Todd said. “I couldn’t have been happier with first-up and if he repeats that next week, we’ll start to plan the trip.”

Todd praised Marketplace’s owners for supporting him to give the pacer extra time out after a busy and hugely successful three-year-old season.

“They’re great owners and the extra time has been a blessing,” he said. “We had him scanned at the end of last campaign and he had a few little growing pains, so it’s been great to give him a good break.

“He looks like a different horse now, which is great.”

If Marketplace heads to Australia for the first time, Todd is planning to get there well in advance.

“If all goes well next week, it’ll be eight weeks to the Rising Sun,” he said.

“I’m thinking we’ll get him over a few weeks before it and spend some time at Luke McCarthy’s place in Sydney before going to Brisbane.

“It’ll be a big change weather-wise for him, so a couple of weeks in Sydney would be a good transition, even though it will be warmer again in Brisbane.”

Todd said the Superstars would likely be Marketplace’s last race in NZ for a while.

“The idea of going to Sydney early is so we can give him the lead-up race or two he needs at Menangle before going to the Rising Sun,” he said.

“It would also be good for him to have some experience around Menangle with a view to other big races there in future.”