Pinjarra trainer Ash Markham returned to WA almost two years ago after a stint of training and driving in Victoria for almost two years. And he is more than happy to be back.
He notched his first metro-class winner in the two years since he arrived back when Codename Marcus, a Victorian-bred pacer he trains and races in partnership with his wife Tamara and his brother Dale, overcame the disadvantage of the outside barrier on the front line and impressed with his supercharged burst from tenth at the bell to win the $21,000 Hoist Torque Australia Pace over 2130m at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Markham moved over east to gain experience, and he admitted it was a steep learning curve for him as a trainer and driver in Victoria.
“I took ten horses to Melbourne, and I thought I had the right horses to succeed over there,” he said. “But it was a tough learning experience, and I sold six of my horses in the first six months over there.
“I found that the environment over there is quite different. They work their horses in light carts; they don’t hopple them hard or work them in the sand.”
Codename Marcus was the star of Markham’s travelling team, and the Victorian-bred pacer had raced four times on country tracks in WA as a two-year-old for a third and three fourths before going to Victoria where he won twice at Bendigo on his way to Melton where he finished sixth behind Captain Ravishing and Leap To Fame in a heat of the Victoria Derby and then running second last behind Leap To Fame in the $200,000 final.
Trainer Larry Nelligan bought Codename Marcus as a yearling in Melbourne and offered him to Markham to train as a late two-year-old. “Larry said if you like him, you can lease him,” explained Markham.
“I was sprinting him up one day and discovered he was very fast. So, I leased him and had a few starts in WA as a two-year-old before taking him to Melbourne where he qualified for the Victoria Derby.
“He was pretty untractable; he always hung, hit a knee and crossfired. We bought him for $20,000 and now we have him under control.”
Markham engaged Aiden De Campo to drive Codename Marcus for the first time in Friday night’s race in which he was solidly supported and went out as the $3 favourite.
De Campo was happy to allow Codename Marcus to relax in last position before setting him alight to follow the $12 chance Fly To The Finish’s three-wide burst approaching the bell. Codename Marcus went four wide with about 380m to travel, and Fly To The Finish took a narrow lead entering the home straight before Codename Marcus burst to the front with about 80m to travel and beat Fly To The Finish by a length, rating 1.58.1.
Codename Marcus has been driven in recent starts by Markham’s 19-year-old son Ayjay, who has yet to gain a licence to drive in metropolitan-class events.
An hour after Codename Marcus had won the first race at Gloucester Park Ajay drove the De Campo-trained Atomic Feel to win the second event at the Narrogin meeting with the seven-year-old gelding finishing strongly from the rear to easily beat Keptain Courageous.
“I’m too old to drive these days,” said the 41-year-old Ash Markham. “So, that’s why we got Aiden to do the job tonight.”
Codename Marcus is by American sire Pet Rock and is the second foal out of the unraced Modern Art mare Mustang Sassy. Codename Marcus has now earned $109,763 from 12 wins and 17 placings from 69 starts. He looks set for more wins.
By Ken Casellas