Former UK galloper Mark Of The Man will be having his third Australian start at Flemington.
Warrnambool-based Aaron Purcell is hoping the handicapper is correct with his assessment of Flemington runner Mark Of The Man.
The Irish-bred imported three-year-old lines up in the VRC Brian Lindsay Trophy (1400m) on Saturday in what will be his third Australian start for Purcell.
After finishing in the second-half of the field over 1200m at Caulfield, Mark Of The Man ran a close second to Summaroca over Saturday’s course and distance on May 15.
Mark Of The Man rises from 55kg to 58.5kg on Saturday and is giving away up to 4.5kg in weight while also being six months younger than his rivals.
“The handicapper has been a bit hard on him, but it is what it is I suppose and hopefully he improves,” Purcell said.
“We’ll see what happens on Saturday.”
After a seven-start career in the UK, that netted two wins, Purcell was able to secure Mark Of The Man at the conclusion of the gelding’s two-year-old season.
Purcell said an agent he had used on previous occasions thought he may be a good buy for Australia and due to an interrupted COVID 2020, Mark Of The Man came up at the right time.
Six months younger than his Australian three-year-old counterparts, Purcell will take Mark Of The Man quietly through his grades, but in time thinks he will develop into a miler and a potential 2000m horse.
“When we bought him, he was only a two-year-old, and we thought these off-season three-year-old races would be good,” Purcell said.
“They’re worth good money and they’re a step below the better three-year-olds.
“At this stage it’s about winning races and getting him used to Australian conditions.
“He was a little disappointing first-up at Caulfield then put in a much better effort at Flemington.
“This looks a suitable type of race and from the good draw he should get nice run in the race and be around the mark at the finish somewhere.”
