Maarek Still Showing Old Sparkle

Tipperary trainer Evanna McCutcheon will not complain if this wet spring continues especially given her stable-star Maarek (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) still appears to be a force to be reckoned with, especially on soft ground. The 9-year-old, whose finest hour came when he won the G1 Prix de l'Abbaye at Longchamp in 2013 made an encouraging start to the season when a running on third to Mobsta (Ire) (Bushranger {Ire}) in the Listed Betway Cammidge Trophy at Doncaster Apr. 2. “We were very happy with him at Doncaster as he's an impossible work horse and we wouldn't know where we stood with him, fitness wise,” said the trainer. McCutcheon trains the gelding for a syndicate that includes her father, well known breeder Peter McCutcheon and is keeping all her options open as regards future targets. “We'll have a look at Newmarket but the ground might not be right for him, so there's also the Woodlands S. at Naas. He's also entered at York in the G2 Duke of York S., so we'll think about that as well. As always, it will depend on where the ground is best for him but he's still a very good horse when things fall right.”