Group 1-winning trainer Richard Litt wishes that he had more horses like Marnix in the stable because they are the horses that keep the business going.
Litt has had Castelvecchio and Profondo reach the highest level in Ottavio Galletta’s colours, which Marnix will carry in the Midway Handicap at Rosehill on Saturday, but getting another win from the $100,000 purchase out of Godolphin is a similar challenge to any big-race success.
Richard Litt has celebrated group 1 wins but is looking to get Marnix back in the winner’s stall in a Midway at Rosehill.Credit:Getty
“He is probably one of the better horses I have in the stable, and winning a Midway for him is a very important step on where he is going,” Litt said. “They might be restricted races, but they are not easy to win.
“Marnix and Essonne, which won the Midway last week, are the horses that we are targeting to win on Saturdays at the moment. That’s what keeps your name up there, and winning helps with confidence.
“Marnix is probably good enough to get to a better level but we need to get him back winning, and it’s a challenge.”
Marnix hasn’t saluted in five starts since winning at the Australia Day meeting at Warwick Farm but has hinted at his potential at black type level this preparation. He ran fourth in the National Sprint and sixth in the Hawkesbury Cup around horses that have been competitive at the Brisbane carnival.
But he is back in a grade where Litt believes he can win, and he has reached for the blinkers for the first time to get the extra edge on his rivals this weekend.
“He is very honest and consistent and is always thereabouts. We want to change the third he ran in a Midway a couple of runs ago into a win; that’s why we put the blinkers on him,” Litt said.
“He is back from a [benchmark] 78 last week, where he got a long way back and found the line. We are hoping he can be closer in this race with the blinkers.
