Racing: Former rogue given chance at redemption

It may not be a Rockabubble moment, but it will be almost as sweet for trainer Tony Cole and his wife Lou if Marsanne wins at Paeroa today.

Their kid-glove country approach with the former rogue is how they came to get Rockabubble, who gave them their first group one scalp in the NZ Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes last month.

The stablemates share similar owners and after what they've been through with Marsanne, you wouldn't find a better home for the $15,000 New Zealand Incentive Scheme Series bonus they are chasing today.

Marsanne was such a handful, that in the end, no one at her former home at Paul O'Sullivan's Wexford Stables, would even get on her back.

But slowly, away from the hustle and bustle of New Zealand's busiest training centre, the Coles have won her confidence back.

"She certainly hasn't been a straightforward filly to train at home either but the quieter life here has definitely helped," said Lou Cole.

"One of her worst problems up until now has been racing too big in condition.

"She's a very robust filly and takes an awful lot of work but we've never been ones to graft the legs off them, galloping wise."

Today, however, Lou Cole is convinced Marsanne, who has winning trials form at Paeroa, is finally ready to live up to her reputation.

"Fortunately she's a very easy filly to read and she seems quite happy in herself at the moment.

"I think she's nearing her best so should be very competitive in a race like this."

Marsanne's close-up last-start sixth fresh-up in a special conditions maiden at Ellerslie last month was much better than it looks on paper.

The General Nediym filly missed the jump by just a beat but rider Lisa Allpress admits she blundered in playing catch-up.

"Lisa actually rang me later in the week to apologise for having her so wide in the running," said Cole.

"She lost her iron just before they jumped, panicked a bit and over rode her early to compensate.

"She wouldn't have ended up so wide if that hadn't happened."

The Coles double-accepted with Marsanne today and considered reserving her for Te Rapa.

But that was more out of respect for the huge opinion stable rider Reese Jones has for the filly, than anything else.

Today's 1350m bonus race is an apprentice-only event and until they booked the promising Chad Ormsby, the Coles were seriously considering forgoing the $15,000 incentive to give Jones the ride.

"Reese has been associated with plenty of good fillies and mares over the years and he has all sorts of time for her," says Cole.

"But for various reasons lately he keeps missing out on the ride."