New Zealand Cup contenders meet in their biggest test yet

Regan Todd may have the hottest horse in New Zealand open class pacing but he isn’t getting carried away with Marketplace.

Marketplace not only meets The Lazarus Effect and It’s Tough but reigning Horse of the Year Republican Party and faces starting wide on a full front line from a standing start for the first time in his career.

He has won both his standing starts and showed great manners but trainer Todd admits tonight brings a different challenge.

“In both those races he was in small fields and off a handicap,” says Todd.

“This week he will be hemmed up amongst horses, although being wide should mean he doesn’t have to come into line until late.

“But it is still a new challenge and a really good field.

“If horses like The Lazarus Effect step quickly and lead or end up trailing a horse like It’s Tough or even Republican Party they could be really hard to run down.”

Todd says he is happy with his stable star after a private workout before the races at Addington last Friday but he is also still on the way up, for obvious reasons.

“My job is to have him peaking for November 10 [Cup Day],” says Todd.

“So he will improve on whatever he does on Friday and it is a step up compared with anything he has done here before.”

Just how quickly Marketplace begins could be crucial as The Lazarus Effect tends to be very fast away and field position and intent inside the first 800m could decide the race as the big boys are all capable of pacing 54 seconds for their last 800m, making coming wide and running past them incredibly difficult.

The Lazarus Effect paced those kind of sectionals in his recent Rangiora trials win and looms as the horse for Marketplace to beat while Republican Party should be the big improver from last start and will enjoy being back on level terms with his rivals.