Golden Rose contender Mamaragan has lost some lustre in the eyes of punters but not his trainer John Thompson.
The colt has been beaten in two campaign runs, resuming with a distant third to Anders in the San Domenico Stakes over 1100m and following with a sixth to Rothfire over slightly further in The Run To The Rose.
Both races contained runaway leaders with Anders showing sustained speed to score while Farnan went hard and tired behind Rothfire.
Thompson says Mamaragan’s efforts have been better than they appear and the three-year-old is looking for the extra distance of Saturday’s Group One Golden Rose.
“The colt, he’s a good horse. He just needs a race run to suit,” Thompson said.
“Both times this campaign he has just been run off his legs.
“He is looking for further and he will appreciate the 1400 metres.”
With the withdrawal of Farnan from the Golden Rose last week, Rothfire is a clear-cut $2.20 favourite while Mamaragan has drifted to $15.
Market 💰: View the Odds for the Golden Rose
Hawkes Racing is expected to run its classy pair of Ole Kirk and North Pacific, who filled the placings behind Rothfire in The Run To The Rose and sit high in early markets.
