Marketplace tracking well for Todd

By Adam Hamilton 

Trainer Regan Todd is thrilled with young Kiwi star Marketplace since his fantastic Aussie debut.

A fast workout this weekend will decide whether the four-year-old races again next Saturday or goes straight into the $300,000 Group 1 Rising Sun a week later.

Marketplace did a power of work in scorching time when a fighting third at Menangle last Saturday night.

“I was really pleased with the run and glad he had a solid hit out,” Todd said.

“He’s thrived off the run and I’ll fast work him tomorrow and Monday, then decide if we race, trial or take him with a pacemaker to Albion Park before the Rising Sun.”

Even in defeat, Marketplace’s run was so impressive his odds were slashed from $5 to $4 for the Rising Sun.

The obvious one to beat is champion former Kiwi mare Captains Mistress, who has to draw inside Marketplace under the preferential draw conditions because she is a mare.

Captains Mistress has won nine of her 10 starts since moving to Jason Grimson’s Menangle stable late last year.

Her only defeat was a luckless fifth to Leap To Fame in the Miracle Mile on March 14 when badly held up in traffic.

But she hasn’t raced since an easy Menangle mile win on June 6.

It now seems she will go straight into the Rising Sun despite four weeks between runs.

The winner of the Rising Sun gets a golden ticket into the $1 million Inter Dominion final.

Connections of Captains Mistress have said she is likely to accept it, but Todd has ruled it out with Marketplace.

“No, the Rising Sun is his target and then he can head home for a break and get ready for (NZ) Cup time,” he said.