Wind the clock back two years and the connections of Mark Twain were celebrating having gained a ballot exemption into the Melbourne Cup.
Six months later after winning the Roy Higgins (2600m) at Flemington, those dreams were shattered by a tendon injury Mark Twain suffered while preparing for the 2024 spring.
Move forward to Saturday and Mark Twain is back at the corresponding Flemington meeting he scored at two years ago.
This time he’s not chasing a Melbourne Cup ballot exemption, but Group 1 victory in the Australian Cup (2000m).
Mark Twain will be lining up for his second start for the Phillip Stokes yard on Saturday having produced an eye-catching third in the Blamey Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on March 24.
He’s since had a tick-over jump-out at Flemington and Stokes reasons keeping him on the fresh side is the best way to approach his races.
“Four weeks between runs with a jump-out in between, I feel that’s the best way to have him, fresh with three weeks being the minimum,” Stokes said.
“It’s a hard race, but the favourite (Birdman) was the one that beat us (last time), and we can only improve and I think the Flemington 2000 (metres) is ideal.
“He ticks a lot of boxes, but we need to see it again, and I’m sure we will because we’ve been very happy with his work.
“He’s very relaxed and happy, so we go their quietly confident.”
Mark Twain was previously prepared by Roger James and Robert Wellwood and made a hit-run visit to win the Roy Higgins two years ago.
After his injury enforced lay-off, Mark Twain had once start in New Zealand before campaigning every couple of weeks in Melbourne, with moderate performances.
“After his issues, he may not have come up last prep, and they were racing him every two weeks,” Stokes said.
“The prep previous to that, he was going a lot better, and I noticed they were spacing his runs a lot more and he was racing well.
“He was working well leading into his first-up run and I tipped him to a lot of people, saying to have something each-way on him.
“We know he’s a good horse when he’s right, so let’s hope he’s somewhere near his best.”
Stokes said he would see how Mark Twain performed on Saturday before deciding where he would head next with the stayer.
