'Elite' Sprinter To Race On

When the Sir Mark Prescott trained Marsha (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) won the Listed Land O'Burns S. at Ayr in June in facile fashion she seemed to have all the hallmarks of a Group 1 sprinter. However having been beaten in two subsequent pattern races she went off a 16/1 shot when tackling Group 1 company for the first time in the Qatar Prix de l'Abbaye at Chantilly on Arc day. However the Elite Racing Club homebred rose to the occasion beating Washington DC (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) and Mecca's Angel (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) to ensure a winter of dreams lies in store for her many owners. “The plan is for her to stay in training next year. She'll be turned out this week for a holiday and come back in around the New Year,” said Dan Downie, racing manager for owners Elite Racing. The programme for a Group 1 sprinter tends to be fairly straightforward and Downie sees no reason to complicate matters, though he is keeping an open mind regarding her best trip. “Obviously we'll have to go for the top sprints. Whether we'll run her over six furlongs, I don't know. She just looked very good over five at Chantilly. She has won over six so at this stage we'll keep our options open. She seems to be settling as she's getting older and more mature which will help. We'll sit down with Sir Mark in the New Year to discuss plans.”