Unbeaten filly Well Written is back in work and a picture of her New Year schedule is forming.
The only certainty is that her primary target is the $4 million NZB Kiwi. With that, speculation is mounting as to which slot the Stephen Marsh-trained filly will be running for when the field for the country’s richest race lines up at Ellerslie on March 7.
"She’s been back in the stable five days and looks great after having an easy time since the 1000 Guineas," Marsh said.
"The Kiwi is obvious — that’s the race she’ll be targeting — and this week there’ll be a lot going on as we work through the various slots and other matters.
"We’ve asked all the interested parties to put their offers down in writing and by the end of the week we expect to be closer to making a decision as to where it lands.
"There’s a lot in play between the owners and everyone else involved, but we’ll get there. It’s just a matter of working through the process."
Well Written’s ownership group now includes the Chinese-based Yulong Investments, which made its biggest move in this country by securing a 50% share in the daughter of their own stallion, Written Tycoon, before her New Zealand 1000 Guineas success, her third consecutive win.
Marsh hinted that a start in the Sistema Railway was looking less likely in preference to the TAB Karaka Millions 3YO or Cambridge Stud Almanzor Trophy on the same Ellerslie raceday of January 24.
Well Written is the clear early favourite at $2.20 for the Karaka Millions 3YO and at $2.50 for the NZB Kiwi, and shares Railway favouritism at $4 with Alabama Lass.
She also heads the market at $8 for the New Zealand Derby but that race, on the same day as the NZB Kiwi and over an extreme distance, has been virtually ruled out.
"We’re tossing up whether we should run her fresh up in the Railway or opt for her own age-group in the Almanzor Trophy," Marsh said.
"The other option is to start her off earlier with a view to running in the Karaka Millions.
"That’s a possibility as she’s done so well during her break and we’re now wondering whether we run her in the Karaka Millions then head to the Kiwi. Dropping back from 1600 to 1500m shouldn’t be an issue, but as you can understand there’s a fair bit to weigh up."
Marsh’s next feature 3-year-old runner is To Cap It All in Saturday’s Bonecrusher Stakes at Pukekohe. — LOVERACING NZ News Desk
By Dennis Ryan
