RACING history is littered with fairytales.
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A horse called Marksmanship, trained by Winslow’s Ciaron Maher, is trying to create a feel-good story for connections.
The galloper has given his new owners a great ride since they paid $120,000 for him at a Lloyd Williams dispersal sale.
And it’s not over yet.
The galloper is now just a win away from a start in Australia’s richest race, with his eight starts for Maher yielding three wins and placings in the Geelong Cup and group 3 Bart Cummings.
Marksmanship’s long list of owners include Warrnambool businessman Colin McKenna and his wife Janice.
Marksmanship began his career in Europe before Williams imported him to Australia.
The stayer was then sold as part of the prominent owner’s annual dispersal sale in May.
Three straight wins followed within two months, including the listed Banjo Paterson Series Final at Flemington, before attention turned to spring.
In his two most recent starts, he has finished second in the Bart Cummings (2520m) at Flemington and the Geelong Cup (2400m).
The winner of tomorrow’s Lexus Stakes (2500m) at Flemington earns a ballot exemption into Tuesday’s $6 million Melbourne Cup (3200m).
Maher said the owners had been delighted with what Marksmanship had already done.
“The international market has just gone crazy at the moment and so to get a horse of that calibre in your backyard, they’re just ecstatic,” Maher said.
Maher believes Marksmanship needed racing experience and noted the horse had not finished worse than second in his three Australian starts at 2400m or further.
He thinks Marksmanship is still developing as a racehorse.
“He had a few little niggling injuries I think before we had him, but he’s only very lightly raced for a horse of his age,” he said.
The Lexus has attracted a field of 13 with all runners except More Than Sacred still chasing the Cup ballot exemption.
The Darren Weir-trained Signoff is favourite at $2.70, with Lord Van Percy $5.50 and Big Memory $6.50.
Geelong Cup winner Caravan Rolls On is at $9, while Marksmanship is an $18 chance. ?
with AAP