Racing: Marsh considers all the Oaks options

Trainer Stephen Marsh would like to see Mark Two make the Oaks feature. Photo / Trish Dunell

A group one classic features in future plans for Mark Two with options either side of the Tasman for the promising three-year-old.

The daughter of Pins finished runner-up on debut over 1600m last month and then acquitted herself admirably when fourth in the group two Royal Stakes (2000m) at Ellerslie on New Year's Day.

"It's her first preparation and it would be nice to get her to the Oaks," trainer Stephen Marsh said. "It's a bit of an ask, but it doesn't have to be in New Zealand if she needs a bit more time. There's Sydney or Queensland options, she's very smart."

While Mark Two is now realising her potential, there have been times when Marsh was left scratching his head.

"I've always thought she was a good horse, but some of her trials were ridiculously poor," he said. "She's come to it now and she's a lovely filly."

Mark Two will make her next appearance in the Cambridge Stud Sir Tristram Fillies' Classic (2000m) at Te Rapa on February 10.

"We're going to take a different approach and we won't run her before that," Marsh said.

Meanwhile, the group one Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand Oaks (2400m) at Trentham on March 17 is the confirmed goal for Insight.

"She's a lovely filly and she'll go down to Wellington next for the Desert Gold Stakes and after that we'll plot a path to the Oaks," Marsh said.

A daughter of Shocking, Insight placed in two of her three outings last preparation before a break and she successfully resumed with a runaway maiden win at Tauranga last week.

• A pair of talented Wexford Stables performers, one proven and the other potentially heading for higher honours, may be heading offshore.

Group victor Sweet Leader and the impressive debutant winner Smart Patch are both owned in Hong Kong, the likely destination for their future racing.

"At this stage, Sweet Leader is heading up there," said Andrew Scott, who trains in partnership with Lance O'Sullivan whose brother Paul will take over the next stage of the four-year-old's career.

"If he performs like we know he can in Hong Kong then it's good for Paul, for us and for the owner."

Sweet Leader has won three of his seven starts, including last season's group three Cambridge Breeders' Stakes (1200m) at Te Rapa. This term, he finished sixth when resuming and then gave an excellent account of himself when fifth in the group one Railway (1200m) at Ellerslie on New Year's Day.

The son of O'Reilly was caught in the worst part of a track that had been downgraded to a Slow 8.

"His run was full of merit," Scott said. "He drew one and the advantage was clearly closer to the outside rail."

Smart Patch is raced by Yeung Kin-Man and he was one of three winners at Matamata last week for the Hong Kong-based billionaire following early successes with Jewel Of Patch and Wisdom Patch.

Yeung is the founder and chairman of Biel Crystal Manufactory, which makes glass covers for smartphones, tablets and watches and supplies, among others, Apple and Samsung. The company has more than 120,000 employees.

Smart Patch created a lasting impression on debut when he overcame a tardy start to win by a widening five lengths over 1100m.

"His last 600m was pretty fast and the manner in which he quickened was really very good. There's a possibility he may go straight to Hong Kong now."

- NZ Racing Desk