Marzemino Impresses at Ellerslie

- from The NZ Racing Desk

Haunui Farm graduate and exciting galloper Marzemino overcame a tardy start and an interrupted run in the home straight to post her second consecutive victory yesterday at Ellerslie.

The Peter and Dawn Williams-trained mare had been confidently expected to lead her rivals a merry chase in the Rating 72 sprint after similar front-running tactics had seen her register a dominant first-up victory at Te Aroha last month.

That plan was immediately thrown out the window when the Per Incanto mare was awkwardly away after charging the gate just prior to the barriers opening.

Rider Andrew Calder didn’t panic as he worked Marzemino into a challenging position behind a wall of horses before she charged through a gap on the inner to score by a head in a blanket finish.

“She has been a little work in progress that we have had to be patient with,” co-trainer Dawn Williams said. “We put her aside as she has been a little bit temperamental, but Andrew (Calder) has really clicked with her. She’s not a horse that likes to be bullied or bustled, but she has got a little bit of ability there.”

Williams is prepared to play the waiting game with Marzemino, who she believes will be better with more experience and further time to mature.

“I think at this stage we will just be working her through the grades,” she said. “We’ll be picking some nice races for her, because she still has next season when she will be a lot stronger and will mentally be able to cope with it.”

Raced in the colours of Karaka-based breeding heavyweights Haunui Farm, who co-bred and share in her ownership, Marzemino has now won three of her six starts since commencing her career in April.

The victory capped a special day for Dawn Williams, who was recognised by Ellerslie and Trentham with races named in her honour to mark her feat of becoming the first Kiwi woman to train 1000 winners. Williams brought up the achievement with a victory by Jip Jip Rock on the same day that Marzemino won at Te Aroha.