Talented stayer Mark Twain is preparing for a return to racing as he aims to secure another berth in the Melbourne Cup, with his first public outing in over a year scheduled for an exhibition gallop at Te Rapa this Saturday.
The son of Shocking earned his spot in the 2024 Melbourne Cup by winning the Listed Roy Higgins in March of that year, but a tendon injury sidelined him before he could contest the great race.
Co-trainers Roger James and Robert Wellwood have been managing his careful rehabilitation, and James is pleased with the gelding’s current condition.
“He’s come back in fantastic shape. There really hasn’t been much downtime for him,” James told NZ Racing Desk.
“OTI Racing engaged Matthew Williams at Warrnambool to oversee his recovery, and he’s had a lot of success with horses suffering similar tendon issues.”
James explained that Mark Twain’s recovery involved a proactive approach from the outset. “From the time of the injury, he remained in consistent activity for four or five months before having a short break ahead of returning to our stable,” he said.
“His work includes a balanced mix of swimming, treadmill conditioning and track gallops. It’s a well-rounded program that seems to be serving him well.”
Mark Twain is expected to have just one race start in New Zealand this spring before he heads across the Tasman in search of a Melbourne Cup slot.
“He’ll need to re-qualify for the Cup, so we’ll likely target the Bart Cummings in October as his key lead-up,” said OTI Racing’s Terry Henderson.
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