By Michael Guerin
Regan Todd knows he has a really good horse on his hands.
But he will know a lot more about just how good Marketplace is after his next three or four starts.
The upstanding son of Bettors Delight put his hoof up to be the best of this freshman crop with a come-from-last win in the Woodlands Sires’ Stakes heat at Addington on Thursday.
He was undoubtedly aided by some of his rivals getting a bit ambitious in the middle stages, a theme that wasn’t uncommon at Thursday meeting where odd tactics were the story of the night.
But regardless of what his rivals did, Marketplace was dazzling, if not on the clock to the eye.
Around 15 lengths off the leaders with 1400m to go he tracked into the race three wide with cover and then let loose with a serious horse’s sprint, all whirling legs and brutish intent.
“I wasn’t that confident with a lap to go but we know he is a good horse, maybe a very good horse,” says trainer Todd.
“But now things get serious. We have the Harness Million next week then the Sires’ Stakes and the Ace Of Spades (November 29).
“After those we will know just how good he is but it is a real buzz to have him in the stable.”
Adding to that buzz is Todd owns 10 percent of Marketplace, meaning the wins are worth 20 per cent of the stake to him which will be coming in handy as Todd has reduced his numbers.
“I had a break over the winter and I came back and decided to want to reduce numbers a bit so I could give the better horses the attention they deserve.
“So I have around 20 in work but I am liking the new stable size and how it is working.”
Thursday’s meeting was filled with good performances although punters sweated for their money as favourites like Treacherous Baby and Vessem were made to work hard to get home.
The fun started early in the Dancinginthedark M (USA) 3YO Mobile Trot when Father Time smashed the three-year-old trotters by nearly five lengths in a impressive “pick me” audition for THE ASCENT, although that $500,000 slot race on Show Day seems to be filling up fast.
Stella Rouge was excellent in the Dunstan Sires’ Stakes 2YO Fillies Pace and looks like she will only continue to improve with racing.
And the lower grade trots saw big wins from Brother Love and Rush, with the former in particular looking in career best form.
Later in the night Mighty Logan added manners to talent to dominate the Breckon Farms Handicap Trot, working to the lead in the middle stages and cruising home in 58.1 seconds, with returning Trotter of the Year Oscar Bonavena never getting into the race, flying home too late for it to matter.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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