3 minute read

Trainer Richard Litt is putting his faith in the addition of blinkers helping things fall into place for consistent galloper Marnix to post an overdue win at Rosehill on Saturday.

The former Godolphin gelding has won two of his 10 starts for Richard Litt, virtually in the same preparation dating back to November, and he says Saturday's Midway Handicap (1500m) is a great opportunity to improve on that record.

If he can have a little bit of luck.

"It's something different. He works well enough in the blinkers,'' Litt said.

"Whether that's the difference between winning or losing I don't know. But it is just keeping him on his toes and a bit sharp.

"He's deep into his preparation now and it's something that's worth a try to see if we can get that one per cent over the line that he needs."

After Marnix went back-to-back at Warwick Farm in January he was sent to Canberra for the Listed National Sprint (1400m) and was a shade unlucky finishing fourth. He was also far from disgraced in the Group 3 Hawkesbury Cup over a mile.

The four-year-old contested a Midway at Rosehill a month ago and ran a gallant third after racing wide and he'll be backing up after a midfield finish in a Benchmark 78 at Randwick last week where Litt said he had excuses.

He was beaten under four lengths by Jojo Was A Man, making his run on the inside in the straight, and clocked the fourth fastest last 600m (35.31, Punter's Intelligence) in the race.

"As soon as he won those couple of races we've thrown him in some deep end races where he's really held his own,'' he said.

"He stepped away a bit tardy the other day and got back and made a little bit of hard work for himself but he still ran a very good race.

"He likes to take more of a forward position in his races which he hasn't been able to do without doing a bit of work, and he was tardy the other day.

"If he can lob and be third or fourth, or fourth or fifth, and just smoke his pipe in behind them that would be ideal.

"He has the aid of Tyler Schiller, who has ridden him before, and a couple of kilos off his back. He will run really well."

Marnix was $4.40 with TAB on Thursday. Litt said stablemate Centro Storico won't take her place in the NSW Bookmakers Co-Op Handicap (1100m) after drawing barrier 16.

"She's a nice filly and we'll wait for the right race,'' he said.