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Cambridge jockey Matt Cameron thinks he has a very good chance of adding another black-type victory to his tally at Ellerslie on Saturday when he rides Mongolian Marshall in the Gr.2 Coca-Cola Avondale Cup (2400m).
The in-form hoop will be reunited with the four-year-old gelding after Sydney-based jockey James McDonald rode him in his last-start runner-up effort in the Karaka Cup (2200m) at Ellerslie last month.
Cameron won the Gr.3 Waikato Cup (2400m) aboard the son of High Chaparral in December and is hoping for a repeat performance on Saturday.
“He is a model of consistency, he always seems to be in the first three,” Cameron said.
“His last start was a super run and he’s really finding the line. He has got a bit of a wide draw (barrier 13) to contend with, but he’s a horse that can jump and put himself on the pace.
“He’s got a brilliant turn of foot, so if we can wait for as long as possible and produce him at the right time he should be hitting the line well.”
Mongolian Marshal will carry 54.5kg and Cameron thinks his charge is well placed in the weights, with Chance to Dance and Five to Midnight carrying 59kg.
“The two older horses above him have got to carry weight and the ones below him are carrying a couple of kilos less than him, but I think he comes into the weights perfectly considering his form and the cups races he has won,” Cameron said.
“54.5kg is no problem at all. I have been riding at 53kg the last few weeks and I’m 53kg on Rocanto for Stephen Marsh on the weekend, so my weight is really good.”
Cameron is bullish about Rocanto’s chances on Saturday in the Dunstan Feeds 1200 and rates him as one of his better rides on the day, outside Mongolian Marshal in the Avondale Cup and Cutadeel in the Gr.2 Schweppes Avondale Guineas (2100m).
“I like Rocanto, he’s dropping back in grade and has got a light weight,” Cameron said. “I think he is ready to pounce and ready to go a better race than what he has been.”