Trish Dunell
Young Cambridge horseman Kyle Marshall has hit the ground running in his first season of training.
He recorded his fifth win from just 23 starts as a trainer on Thursday night when he reined home Pembrook Charlie to a two and a half-length victory in the Royden Williams Photography Mobile Pace (2000m) at the Manawatu Raceway.
“I was rapt with the way he ran,” Marshall said. “He came off the gate really well and everything went in his favour.
“The favourite (The Kapiti Express) galloped going into the first bend and another one broke its hopple and was pulled up, so everything went his way but he travelled well and did it quite comfortably.
“He’s just a bit lazy by himself, I think if he had a horse to go with him he might have ran up the straight a bit better.”
The three-year-old son of Sportswriter was only having his second start for Marshall, having been entrusted with the gelding in September by well-known owner Trevor Casey.
Purchased as a yearling for $30,000, Pembrook Charlie was previously with Papakura trainer Tony Herlihy and ran fourth in his first outing for Marshall at Cambridge last month.
“I got a call from Trevor because he thought he wasn’t suited to Auckland racing,” Marshall said.
“His last race he definitely needed the run, he probably wanted another workout. But it was good for him and they went 43 in that Cambridge race, so it was a good run for him.”
Marshall elected not to line-up Pembrook Charlie on the first day of the club’s dual meeting and has now turned him out, hoping he will strengthen with time.
“He’s just a three-year-old and he’s a bit weak, so one day was enough for him,” Marshall said.
“He’s turned out now. We’ll just see how he goes, but he’ll probably only be out in the paddock for a couple of weeks.
“I think he’s on his way up, he’s improving all the time. Only being a three-year-old he will get stronger with a bit of time.” – Cambridge Raceway
