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Stephen Marsh admits Billy Mojo is no Ruud Awakening, but says he's still a worthy ticket in a million-dollar lottery.
The Cambridge trainer will produce Mastercraftsman colt Billy Mojo in Saturday's NZB Insurance Pearl Series 2yo (1200m) at Ellerslie in a bid to shore up a spot in the Karaka Million (1200m) at the same track on January 25.
Marsh's last runner in the Karaka Million was Ruud Awakening, who won the 2013 edition of the race for Karaka yearling sales graduates under ace Melbourne hoop Craig Williams."He's not in Ruud Awakening's league but if he gets in he'll definitely run. It's a million-dollar race so you've got to take your chance," Marsh said.
Billy Mojo runs in the same colours as Ruud Awakening, raced by the Go Racing With The Master syndicate.A winner at Te Rapa in November, Billy Mojo hasn't raced since his fifth placing to Showboy in the Gr.2 Wakefield Challenge Stakes at Trentham last month.
"He'll improve with a bit of a freshen up since his last run and I think he'll be a good top three chance on Saturday," Marsh said."The draw [barrier nine] isn't ideal but he's got good gate speed so he'll go forward and put himself in the race. We'd just like to see him collect some cash to seal a start in the Million.
"With the Aussie horse [Hardline] definitely coming, we'd need to make a bit of money on Saturday to make sure we get in."Fourteen two-year-olds contest the Karaka Million and Billy Mojo sits at 15th on the order of entry, which is decided on stakes earnings.
A top-three finish would take Billy Mojo inside the top 14, though only a top-two finish would assure him of a Karaka Million start.Eight of the 12 runners in Saturday's race are still paid up for the Karaka Million with China Silk (fifth) and Outlaw Kate (ninth) both assured of starts.
Marsh, who says Billy Mojo will be an even better three-year-old, has high hopes for his other Ellerslie runners, Chipandchase and Puntinato.