BC Internationals: Turf Sprint contender Marsha

Marsha’s upset of Lady Aurelia in the Nunthorpe (G1) was unexpected in the betting market, but not a total shock if judged by her absolute top-drawer talent. Hence international racing fans can be grateful that these two dynamos get a rubber match in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1).

A homebred success story for the 10,000-strong Elite Racing Club, Marsha is related to a past Elite homebred star, Soviet Song. Marsha’s dam, French stakes winner Marlinka, is a three-quarter sister to Soviet Song, a European champion whose five Group 1 trophies include a victory over males in the 2004 Sussex (G1).

Marsha showed talent early on for her crafty trainer, Sir Mark Prescott, who pitched her into a stakes versus older males in the fall of her juvenile season. The Acclamation filly actually went off as the 9-4 favorite in that 2015 Mercury S. at Dundalk, (click link for replay), where she was receiving gobs of weight (23 pounds). Even allowing for her light impost, she did very well at such a tender age to finish third to divisional veterans Take Cover and Speed Hawk, and beat the likes of Gordon Lord Byron, Jamesie, and Russian Soul. Indeed, Marsha over-raced early and got tightened up on the rail rounding the turn, and still kept finding in the lane.

At three in 2016, Marsha dropped her first two over six furlongs, but reverting to five furlongs for the Land O’Burns Fillies’ S. at Ayr proved a revelation. She overwhelmed them in hand, ears pricked, and announced herself a five-furlong whirlwind ready for better company.

Marsha found it next time in the City Walls at York. Near the back early, she rallied strongly in deep stretch and forced her neck in front of Easton Angel, a vague foreshadowing of what she’d do to Lady Aurelia a year later over the same track and trip. Easton Angel had been runner-up to another Wesley Ward flyer, Acapulco, in the previous summer’s Queen Mary (G2) at Royal Ascot. Marsha claimed a few other notables in the City Walls, including smart (if frustrating) older male Muthmir in third.

Up to Group level for the King George (G2) at Glorious Goodwood, Marsha swung out for room a fraction too late in a cavalry-charge finish. She was gaining but beaten all of three-quarters of a length in fifth by her old pal Take Cover. Fellow sophomores Washington DC and Easton Angel were second and fourth, respectively. The fact that she’d previously collared Easton Angel suggests Marsha may not have run quite up to her York form.

Favored at 2-1 in her first French foray for the Prix du Petit-Couvert (G3), Marsha was game in pursuit but had to settle for second to loose-on-the-lead 16-1 shot Just Glamorous.

That was just a prep for the main objective, the Prix de l’Abbaye (G1) on Arc Day, and Marsha was primed to deliver a new career high. By sweeping past 6-4 favorite Mecca’s Angel, Marsha effected a changing of the guard from one superior female sprinter to another. She also got the jump on a belatedly closing Washington DC.