Horse racing: Stephen Marsh looking to cap busy weekend with another Guineas win at Riccarton

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Stephen Marsh’s confidence of landing a second Group 1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas crown tomorrow has been boosted by all of Raymond’s lead-up performances. The Cambridge trainer won…

Well Written won the New Zealand 1000 Guineas for trainer Stephen Marsh last season and he chases the New Zealand 2000 Guineas with Raymond tomorrow. Photo / Ajay Berry

Stephen Marsh’s confidence of landing a second Group 1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas crown tomorrow has been boosted by all of Raymond’s lead-up performances.

The Cambridge trainer won the Classic in 2016 with Ugo Foscolo and a decade on his current hope will also carry the colours of prominent breeder and owner Lib Petagna.

Ardrossan’s son Raymond has enjoyed a trouble-free preparation toward Saturday’s Al Basti Equiworld Dubai-sponsored feature and is expected to relish the step up to 1600m on the roomy Riccarton course.

“It’s been 10 years since Ugo Foscolo won and I think there’s a real sense of timing around Raymond,” Marsh said.

Runner-up in his only juvenile start, the gelding was a resuming fifth at Ellerslie before he made ground well to finish third in the Group 2 Hawke’s Bay Guineas (1400m) and again came from the back for fifth in the Group 2 Sarten Memorial (1400m) at Te Rapa.

“He has been racing really well from wide draws and his sectionals have been good, this looks a perfect race for him,” Marsh said.

“He’s finally got a good barrier [4], he’s been screaming out for the mile, and the side winkers have worked well for him.”

Raymond earned another tick for the way he’s handled his first trip away from home.

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