Punters Info<\/a><\/p>\nBy Adam Hamilton\u00a0<\/p>\n
Champion driver Luke McCarthy can\u2019t wait to drive boom Kiwi pacer Marketplace in his Australian debut at Menangle on Saturday night.<\/p>\n
Regan Todd\u2019s four-year-old is a $1.50 favourite despite drawing the outside (he will start from gate 10) in a 2300m free-for-all.<\/p>\n
His key rivals include Jason Grimson\u2019s star speedster Hi Manameisjeff and Mick Stanley\u2019s Ubetcha Tigerpie, who ran fourth in the Nullarbor and Fremantle Cup at Gloucester Park in April.<\/p>\n
McCarthy took the reins when Marketplace beat Ubetcha Tigerpie comfortably in a slick 1min50.1sec mile trial at Menangle.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was everything you\u2019d hoped for, he absolutely jogged it in,\u201d McCarthy said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m sure it would have brought him on even more and this looks a good starting point, even from the wide draw.\u201d<\/p>\n
McCarthy said Marketplace gave him the feel of a \u201cvery serious horse.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve driven him a couple of times now, the first was in (track) work before the NZ Derby when I was over there with Kingman,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s really fast, but he\u2019s strong, too.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s why the 2300m rather than a mile should be a good starting point for him this week.\u201d<\/p>\n
It\u2019s an important race for Marketplace just three weeks out from his major Aussie target, the $300,000 Group 1 Rising Sun at Albion Park on July 4.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019ll show us whether he needs another run, or can go straight into the Rising Sun,\u201d McCarthy said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think it\u2019s a great idea to bring him over. A little trip away like this can help make a horse like him. I\u2019ve seen it with some of my best horses.\u201d<\/p>\n
While champion mare Captains Mistress is all the rage for the Rising Sun at $1.50, McCarthy is heading towards the race with optimism.<\/p>\n
\u201cI know she\u2019ll get a preferential draw and she\u2019s very good, but I\u2019d love Marketplace to draw the front, say four or five,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s so fast out, I\u2019d give him a chance of crossing them at the start if he drew to have a real crack at doing it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Todd plans to take Marketplace to Brisbane well ahead of the Rising Sun.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m keen to give him a look around the track, whether that\u2019s in a race, a trial or just a workout,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s an important race for the Kiwis given Marketplace is one of three key pacers seen as the hope to restore some pride after a couple of years of Aussie open-class dominance. Got The Chocolates and The Lazarus Effect are the others.<\/p>\n
Todd confirmed Marketplace would head home after the Rising Sun to have a break and prepare for the NZ Cup.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s despite a potential victory in the Rising Sun earning him a golden ticket into the $1 million Brisbane Inter Dominion final.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe doesn\u2019t need to take on Leap To Fame on his home deck just yet, we can wait and do that back in NZ,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
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