Shane Ellis set to ride Marquesas in Pick-3 Super Challenge
Following Marquesas’s four-and-a-half length victory in Wednesday’s Abbie Grannum Memorial Cup feature, trainer Michael Marlowe said that the performance was enough to convince jockey Shane Ellis to take up the reins in the Pick-3 Super Challenge Trophy next week Saturday.
The Pick-3 Super Challenge Trophy, the second leg in the Supreme Ventures Limited Two-Year-Old ‘Triple Crown’ series, is run over seven furlongs (1,400m) for a purse of $3.6 million. Marquesas (Coded Warning – Islamorada) was an easy winner ahead of El Profesor, Wilson and Royal Aviator. Marquesas completed the maiden special weight event for native-bred two-year-olds over seven furlongs (1,400m) in a time of 1:26.0. Marlowe said that his charge will do himself justice come next week. “Beautiful…it was just beautiful. I mean, it was a beautiful performance by Marquesas to get by rivals today (Wednesday), and it seemed as if he will go little longer as well.
“The next stop for him will be in the Supreme Ventures race, which is the Pick-3 Super Challenge Trophy.
The jockey (Shane Ellis) wants to ride him in the race next week Saturday and so we have to get him ready for that now. We have a lot of chance in the race. As long as the races are going long, we are going to be a tough contender,” Marlowe stated.
Marquesas broke from the starting gates in second position behind El Profesor (Paul Francis), but after a couple of strides Ellis took his mount off the pace.
A Seh Soup (Javaniel Patterson), who missed the break, rushed up against the inside rails to take the lead.
When the pace increased at the half-mile and El Profesor and Francis picked up the lead, Ellis sent Marquesas in chase approaching the final bend.
Marquesas then assumed the lead at the top of the lane and went on about his business, lengthening his growing advantage with every stride to the wire.
“We don’t even know how good he is as yet. At this time, we think he can be anything as we have not squeezed him as yet; we haven’t asked him much yet, so what you are seeing now is just him doing what he loves and that is to run,” Marlowe said
