Cigar Mile & Malibu Options For Marking

Time/Date - 15.50hrs local time/Saturday, November 28, 2015 Racecourse/Country - Aqueduct/USA
Surface/Distance - Dirt/1m

Unbeaten three-year-old Marking could take on two of North America's top dirt horses, Private Zone and Tonalist, in the G1 Cigar Mile Handicap at Aqueduct, USA, on Saturday, November 28.

The Kiaran McLaughlin-trained colt has been declared to run in the US$500,000 handicap but may be re-routed to the seven-furlong G1 Malibu Stakes at Santa Anita on December 26.

Marking recorded an impressive victory over the same course and distance as the Cigar Mile Handicap on November 4, when he forged clear in the straight to score by five and a half lengths in an allowance race.

He gained a clear debut success under a hands and heels ride in an extended six-furlong maiden at Belmont Park on September 23.

Jose Ortiz has been booked to ride the son of Bernardini in the Cigar Mile Handicap, in which he has been allotted 7st 13lb.

Kiaran McLaughlin commented: "We entered Marking for the Cigar Mile but we are not sure if we will let him run.

"It's probably a 50/50 decision at the moment, as drawing post one was not ideal as he has had trouble in the stalls before.

"The Cigar Mile is a very tough Grade One. Marking is very talented but it is a big step up from an allowance race to a race like this and we are more inclined to wait for the Malibu Stakes, where he will run against his own age.

"If he did run on Saturday, he would be getting weight from most of the field and he is in good form, but he is a doubtful starter as things stand."

A field of seven for the Cigar Mile Handicap is dominated by four-time G1 winner Private Zone and Tonalist, who has gained three G1 victories including the 2014 Belmont Stakes, with Breeders Cup Dirt Mile third Red Vine also set to line up.