A tough win in a benchmark race at Warrnambool may just set Marble Nine up for success in the feature sprint race at the Warrnambool Carnival.
The Leon and Troy Corstens and Will Larkin-trained Marble Nine heads to the Listed Wangoom Handicap (1200m) on Wednesday.
Marble Nine is no stranger to Stakes company having been placed in the Group 3 Bletchingly Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield last July, at start number six.
He has also been placed in Listed company at Morphettville, beaten under a length by Press Down in the W H Wylie Handicap (1100m) at Morphettville.
Marble Nine will be lining up for his fourth start for the campaign and has been ultra-consistent.
The four-year-old kicked off his campaign finishing third at Flemington on March 8 before chasing home The Instructor, an opponent on Wednesday, at Moonee Valley on March 22.
Those two efforts set Marble Nine up for a solid win over 1300m at Bendigo on April 12.
“He ran second at Moonee Valley, and that surprised me a bit because I was a bit uncertain how he handled The Valley,” Troy Corstens said.
“But he ran really well and confirmed that with a good win at Bendigo.”
Corstens said the drop back in distance to 1200m on Wednesday was ideal for Marble Nine to register his first Black Type success.
On the minimum of 54kg, Harry Coffey replaces Ben Allen aboard Marble Nine on Wednesday, and it will be Coffey’s first ride in the Listed race since finishing 12th aboard Noella’s Choice in 2016.
“Unfortunately, Ben Allen can’t make the weight, but the horse is very, very well and I’m really pleased with him,” Corstens said.
“I like the lead-up that we’ve had with him. The tough 1300 metres at Bendigo and now we’re coming back to the 1200 metres on Wednesday, and the rain, if it comes at Warrnambool, which it usually does, he’ll love that.
“He’s got no weight on his back, a good rider, so it sets up really nicely for him.”
