Marketplace gives awesome display in preparing for Rising Sun

Outstanding New Zealander Marketplace (Bettors Delight) showed the locals what he is made of when he cruised to an effortless harness racing win in the 2026 Wondai’s Mate feature at Albion Park on Saturday night.

Not that we all knew how good he was when he finished an unlucky third at his debut at Menangle after having a torrid run.

So there were high expectations at Albion Park where he drew two. And he did not disappoint his supporters. Beaten for early speed by Wisper A Secret momentarily it looked as if Marketplace would be caught outside the leader. But Luke McCarthy decided to press on and then took Marketplace to the lead.

MARKETPLACE 27 JUN REPLAY

After that there was never going to be any doubt especially in that he had a breather in his second quarter running 30.3 seconds. Tims A Trooper charged around the field with the slow pace to race alongside Marketplace.

However the New Zealander stepped up the gas in a third quarter of 28.3 seconds as Wisper A Secret tried to stay in touch. But with McCarthy sitting tight, Marketplace was unextended as he ran 26.5 seconds for his final quarter to record a comfortable win over a battling Wisper A Secret while Seasider who was back on the rails finishing on for third placing.

Whilst he might not have won by a great margin it was more important that Marketplace could acquaint himself with the Albion Park circuit and crucially he didn’t have a particularly hard run which should favour him when he tackles next Saturday night’s Group 1 $300,000 Rising Sun.

This is Marketplace’s major objective on this trip, after the run he will go back to be prepared for the New Zealand Cup in November thereby missing the Inter Dominion.

However more immediately of great interest will be his clash with the brilliant mare Captains Mistress in what will be a first class field. But there’s no doubt that Marketplace will be a worthy contender for New Zealand.

For complete race results, click here.

By Tony Milanese for Harnesslink