Small fields can throw up strange results and the connections of Mark Twain will be hoping for one on Saturday.
Mark Twain is the $101 outsider in the Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on Saturday where he tackles five opponents who are all Group 1 winners.
Since 2000, there have been eight horses win at double figure odds including Gatting at $101 in 2019, Littorio ($41) in 2011 and Hugs Dancer ($26) in 2004.
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Mark Twain’s main claim to fame was his victory in last year’s Listed Roy Higgins (2600m) at Flemington, a race that earned him a ballot exemption for the Melbourne Cup.
Unfortunately, a tendon injury robbed him of that chance, but the stayer is back looking for a second chance to line up in this year’s Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington on November 4.
The Roger James and Robert Wellwood-trained galloper ran last over 1200m in New Zealand on August 9 at his first run since the Roy Higgins win last year and made his way to Australia where he was due to run in the So You Think Stakes (1500m) at Moonee Valley last Saturday.
But after dropping jockey Jamie Mott shortly after leaving the saddling enclosure, Mark Twain was a late scratching from that engagement.
“He dropped me on the way to the barriers,” Mott said.
“Unfortunately, I had to let him go because he was about to stand all over the top of me and he had a bit of a canter around for a couple of laps.
“There are only six runners on Saturday so, instead of a gallop, he’ll get more out of a race, but he’s probably not up to winning that race.”
Mott had hoped to get a feel of Mark Twain under race conditions with hope of sticking with the stayer as the races get longer.
But Mott said Mark Twain needs to get his rating up to get closer to the weight he can ride at.
“I was literally on him for four seconds the other day, so I didn’t get to have much of a feel of him but he’s a nice horse and we’ll see what he can do on Saturday,” Mott said.
“If he can get a bit more weight in those big races, he’s one I’d like to ride.
“Hopefully he won’t get run off his legs on Saturday and then I think the plan is to back him up in the Naturalism (at Caulfield) the week after.
“Roger is a great trainer, and he really likes the horse, so hopefully he’s got him on track.
“We need to get a win to get his rating up to get my weight.”
Stayer Mormona chasing Melbourne Cup berth in Archer Stakes
The longer the race the better for Mormona who chases a Melbourne Cup start at Flemington.
The Group 3 Archer Stakes (2500m) on Saturday provides a ‘win and you’re in’ opportunity for the 12 runners engaged after the scratching of Smokin’ Romans on Thursday.
The Annabel and Rob Archibald-trained Mormona will be second-up off a freshen up in Saturday’s contest after producing an eye-catching performance at Caulfield on August 30.
Mormona won over 3000m in France before joining the Archibald team and after 10 attempts at scoring on Australian soil finally got the job done at start number 11 when successful in the Deane Lester Flemington Cup 1849 over 2800m in July.
The gelding had a strong winter campaign in Sydney before heading to Melbourne where he relished the 2800m under a perfect ride from Jamie Melham.
Mormona was only afforded a short break before resuming over 2000m at Caulfield and Rob Archibald said in an ideal world they would like more time.
But Archibald said the gelding was an out-and-out stayer and second-up up off a short break over 2500m would not pose a problem.
“Obviously from a timing point of view it’s a little bit tricky as he’d been up a little while before winning at Flemington, so we knew that we had to give him a little bit of a freshen if we were going to get through to the spring,” Archibald said.
“So, he had a bit of a let-up, spent a bit of time at the beach and now we’re working our way back.
“He is a natural stayer, and he’s come through the last run well.
“I thought he was excellent, and we couldn’t have asked for anything more. He was back, and a bit wide, and we thought he closed off well in the circumstances.
“He’s a natural stayer, he’s won a couple of times over 3000 metres so the further he goes, the better for him. It’s just a matter of making sure he’s conditioned and can cope with that distance when he gets to it.
“His first-up run was a tick and hopefully he keeps progressing.”
Michael Dee who had the ride at Caulfield sticks with the stayer on Saturday.
- With RAS NewsWire
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