Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
Marbeechsam ended a losing sequence of 16 and a 12-month drought when he sustained a powerful three-wide burst to score an easy victory on Tuesday of last week — and he made it two wins in the space of three days when he was seen in a different role before winning the $21,000 Garrard’s Horse And Hound Autumn Series final at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
He was a strong $1.50 favourite when Ryan Warwick got him away smartly from the No. 3 barrier and dashed him to the front after 120m before setting a solid pace and winning from the $3.80 second fancy Kingseat, rating 1.57.4 over 2130m.
“It was a very good run on Tuesday and the way he did it was most impressive,” said Warwick. “It gave him some confidence, and he built on that tonight.”
Marbeechsam is trained by Mike Beech, who races the Foreclosure five-year-old in partnership with his partner Margie Guy, Sam Salamone and Sam’s daughter Margaret McKenner — with a combination of their names making up the gelding’s name.
“I picked him out at the yearling sale, and we bought him for $20,000,” said Beech. The gelding now has raced 47 times for seven wins, eleven placings and stakes of $70,847.
Marbeechsam is out of Mach Three mare Generally Outspoken, who won the Gold Bracelet for two-year-old fillies at Gloucester Park in July 2013 before being retired after racing 26 times for eight wins, five placings and $69,688.
Marbeechsam’s elder half-brother Whataretheodds has shown great promise, having had 34 starts for nine wins, 13 placings and $144,150. As a two-year-old in the winter of 2021 he finished second to Tricky Miki in the Golden Slipper and second to Rock On Top in the Westbred Classic.
“Marbeechsam was immature early on and wouldn’t sit behind horses,” said Beech. “But he has turned the corner and matured over the past six months.
“Earlier in his career when he was pulled out (for a run) in a race he would just take off, and that’s why we had to sit him. Now he has settled, and he is at his best sit-sprinting, and we also are happy to use his gate speed as well.”