Speaker 1Well, Well Written is lining up in the Tab Epsom on the weekend. She's a superstar Kiwi and like previous superstar Kiwis before her, she comes here with an incredible record. She had the seven starts for seven wins and Steve Marsh is her trainer. Morning, Stephen. Good morning, how are you? I'm very, very well. How did she arrive to Australia, Well Written?
Speaker 2Look, she arrived late last night and arrived unbelievably well. I couldn't believe it when she got off the float at Randwick. Look, she left Cambridge just after 4pm NZ time and she got to Randwick about quarter past 10 last night, wandered off the truck and not even a sweat mark or anything on her. She was perfect and just arrived and just settled in brilliantly. So no, you couldn't pay to get her better.
Speaker 1Do they usually, when they travel, have a bit of sweat or a bit of, not anxiety, but they're sort of looking around going, where am I? And I guess when they do travel like this, does it put an extra spring in your step?
Speaker 2Yeah, well, look, it certainly does. And there's just so much going on. They get on a float at Cambridge and they've got to get sort of around a busy airport and wandering around, put in a crate, then on a plane. And, you know, the takeoff and landing's pretty, you know, when the thrusts and all that, it's quite a fair bit on them. And then, you know, they've got to get off. And there's just so much to-ing and fro-ing for them. They do get a chance to get upset. But, look. Look, as a weanling, she actually flew from Australia to New Zealand and she had to fly to Christchurch to win the Thousand Guineas. So I guess the good thing is she's been on a couple of planes and probably getting a little bit used to it. So it really helped the trip. And, oh, it certainly puts a spring in your step when they're that well in themselves.
Speaker 1Yeah, and her win in the Poiseuille Plate was obviously pretty special. That was at Ellerslie. So she comes with plenty of that winning confidence, as you'd expect. The seven stars, the seven wins. She was taking on the older horses for the first time last start. And what did you learn about her after that win?
Speaker 2Yeah, it's never easy. You know, four-year-old mares, you know, because as three-year-olds, obviously we know they race in a pretty protected company. And then coming out against those older, wait-for-age horses, meeting them at level weights, it's not easy. 1,400, you know, against, you know, Alabama Lass really kicked hard. And I just like the way she really put them away late. Her last sort of 100 was the best part of it. And I like her two runs at the mile when she won like 1,000 guineas and a crack a mile. She was devastating in those. So I think where we've got her now is she's ideally placed at the mile, especially with a good marble, not the visitor's draw.
Speaker 1Yeah, no, she does have a fantastic barrier. So where do you want to, and I know you'll probably really sit down with Zach and your form guys and work it out, but where do you think ideally she races? Best? What position?
Speaker 2I think with her, you know, you help her out of the gates. You know, she'll be in a forward enough position. And then it'll be up to Zach to see what the pressure of the race is like. And, hey, look, if she was sort of fourth to sixth, something like that, just on the bridle nicely without chasing her along, about getting her into a good rhythm and, you know, utilizing a good draw and just having her a good, happy space. And, you know, it's just fine. Long, long straight up the rise. So don't, don't panic. And I think just if he's got her in a comfortable spot traveling good, that's ideally what we want to see.
Speaker 1Do you feel like the 55, you were treated a bit harshly? Were you expecting less weight?
Speaker 2Yeah, well, look, it's, I'm certainly not the handicapper and he's done his job, but I certainly didn't see us getting 55. I thought it was a bit tough. And everyone I speak to tells me it's a bit tough. So, yeah, I mean, it's not ideal. But we can't do anything about it. And we just hope on Saturday he's right.
Speaker 1And no Matt Cartwright to ride. So Zach Lloyd riding. That decision, was that purely for these next couple of runs leading into a Golden Eagle? Was it just you wanted the local knowledge?
Speaker 2Look, that's exactly what it is. Like Matt Cartwright's had seven rides on her. And to be honest, ridden her brilliant the whole way through. We just felt we wanted a local jockey that knows the tracks, you know, inside out. And, you know, he's a young gun. He's hungry. He's riding brilliant. So we just felt it was the right, you know, the right decision to make. And he is going very well, Zach. He is a great, a great young jockey. And, yeah, we certainly didn't take Matt off, but we just thought it was a better idea.
Speaker 1Where does she stack up? I'm sure you've been asked this stacks of times, but for our radio audience across the country, like you've had some beauties too, Steve. Where does she rank?
Speaker 2Well, I think she's the most exciting horse we've had. And potentially, you know, she is the best horse. She seems to, I don't know where her sort of level is as yet. Yeah, I think she's certainly the most exciting horse we've trained. And I just hope she can retain that unbeaten form line. It'll be lovely.
Speaker 1It would be nice. Now, before I let you go, the rest of your team, because we've got races, you know, popping up all the time here, and we love a punt. Just like our Kiwi mates, we love a punt. Is there anything even away from well-written we should be keeping an eye on this week that we can have a flutter on?
Speaker 2Yeah, I think we've got the home track Cambridge today. I thought maybe one today, maybe Confectionist. She's unbeaten on the synthetic. She could probably win again. But I do like a horse from a wide gate on Saturday. First up for the first time of asking for the stable, an ex-Australian horse. Hidden achievement. I thought here's a good chance. Saturday, matter, matter. Just a rating 75-1200. Drawn out a bit. We'll need a bit of luck, but cart right in the saddle. All right. I'm sure he can do the job for us.
Speaker 1Hidden achievement and Confectionist with McNabb on board today. That goes in 50 minutes, punters. Oh, here we go. Here we go. $3 currently. $3 for Confectionist. They're written by Mare, who comes out of those last two wins with Michael McNabb on board. Gee, it's a lump job, Steve. Do we load up? Because. I wouldn't go too silly. Don't go too silly today?
Speaker 2Don't go too silly today, but I think you can have a nice solid each way on Saturday.
Speaker 1Okay, perfect. Good luck with well-written. Obviously, she burst onto the scene. She has been really one of the pride of New Zealand. And I'm sure there'll be a lot of Kiwis hoping that she can get the chocolates, along with a lot of Australian punters as well on Saturday, mate. Good luck. No, beauty. Really appreciate it. Thanks, guys. Cheers, mate. There's Stephen Marsh.
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