Melbourne Cup campaign for NZ stayer hit by wet weather

Mark Twain’s lead-up to the Melbourne Cup has encountered a setback, with heavy conditions and forecast rain likely to see him scratched from Sunday’s Te Aroha meeting.

“With the weather forecast, he will have to be a doubtful starter, which is a shame because it is a crucial run in a build-up towards Melbourne,” said trainer Roger James, who prepares the gelding alongside Robert Wellwood.

“The weather is looking bad, and it is a heavy 10 already, so it is probably unlikely (that he will start).”

The son of Shocking had earned his place in last year’s Cup after winning the ballot-free Listed Roy Higgins (2600m) at Flemington, but a tendon injury ruled him out of the spring carnival.

After 16 months on the sidelines, Mark Twain returned with a run over 1200m at Te Rapa earlier this month. While he finished last, James said he was satisfied with the effort and encouraged by the gelding’s subsequent improvement.

Sunday’s Te Aroha outing was intended as his final New Zealand start before traveling to Australia, where he is expected to contest the Group 3 Bart Cummings (2500m) as his likely pathway into the Melbourne Cup.

Punters eager to follow Mark Twain’s progress towards the Melbourne Cup can compare markets and odds across leading betting sites.