Jockey Liam Riordan could not have asked for a better birthday present than guiding Marble Nine to victory at Flemington.
Riordan celebrated his 28th birthday with success on Marble Nine in the Funky Farm Sprint (1100m) on Saturday, 11 years after he began his apprenticeship with Troy Corstens.
The Listed Santa Ana Lane Sprint Series Final (1200m) at Flemington on July 5 now awaits the Leon and Troy Corstens and Will Larkin-trained Marble Nine after Saturday’s win.
Dropping back to 1100m after a Flemington win over 1200m on June 7, Marble Nine ($8) scored a 1-½ lengths win from the $2 favourite Cleo Cat with Midwest ($13) in third place.
Troy Corstens said it would be hard to take Riordan off Marble Nine after Saturday’s win.
“Liam is one of the hardest working kids out there,” Corstens said.
“He was apprenticed to us and I’ve got a real soft spot for him. He doesn’t get a lot of opportunities, but he’s going really well at the moment.
“It’s nice to give him a birthday present for yesterday and you wouldn’t take him off now, but in fairness, Hannah (Edgley) would have stayed on had it been a claiming race.
“She had done nothing wrong, but it wasn’t and it’s hard to justify putting a claimer on.”
The Corstens team won the corresponding race four years ago with The Astrologist with that horse going on to claim the corresponding Stakes race two weeks later.
Corstens said the stable was a little concerned with the drop back in trip.
“We were a little worried about dropping him back to 1100 metres thinking the 1200 might be better for him,” Corstens said.
“I said to the guys, it was either this or give him a trial, and I said we might as well go around for the prize money and see what we can do.”
Saturday’s win was Marble Nine’s first in open company, having performed well in Stakes company last season as a late three-year-old.
“He was racing against Recommendation this time last year when Recommendation was flying and the form stood up right through the spring,” Corstens said.
“But we had an interrupted spring with him.
“He’s grown up now and has done a good job.”
Punters who backed Marble Nine in the Funky Farm Sprint will be watching closely for the Santa Ana Lane Sprint Series Final, with markets already open at the best betting sites Australia for early odds and promotions.