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Marsha runs great race in the States

10 November 2017

We are all very proud of Marsha's sixth-place finish in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint at Del Mar in California last Saturday night. Whilst she has proven herself to be the fastest filly in the Northern Hemisphere, she did not have the pace to sit handy in the blistering five-furlong contest, which was run at a breakneck pace. She stayed on remarkably well inside the final quarter of a mile to finish sixth, beaten just two noses for fourth place.

The amount of ground she made up in the short home straight was incredible. For two seasons Marsha has been racing on straight courses and her inexperience around a tight bend, compared to her American-trained opponents, was evident as she was stoked around the tight turn by regular pilot, Luke Morris. Marsha ran yet another superb race on extremely firm ground, which she has not encountered for some time. Her trainer, Sir Mark Prescott, was thrilled with the run and was glad he made the journey to watch her race at America's greatest racing weekend.

Marsha's next date is at the December Sales on 5 December at Tattersalls in Newmarket, where she is being offered for sale as a broodmare prospect. Marsha has achieved more than any of us thought possible, and has given so many people so much pleasure. Her trainer says he has enjoyed training her more than the previous best sprinter he had handled, the top stallion, Pivotal, which is quite an accolade. He has enjoyed her great achievements and we have no doubt she will be much missed at Heath House.

Her remarkably calm temperament endeared her to so many, including her doting jockey, who will no doubt miss the dual-Group 1 winner. She provided Luke with his first domestic Group 1 winner when defeating Lady Aurelia in the Nunthorpe Stakes in August, which was arguably one of the greatest races of the summer. Credit must also go to her devoted groom, Sara Oliviera, and assistant trainer, William Butler, who has been pivotal to her success.