Mornington trainer Tony Noonan will try for a first-up longshot win with Ma Shang in Sunday's Christmas Stakes at Caulfield.Ma Shang, who has won five races from 24 starts including three at Sandown and one at Flemington, was beaten in an exhibition gallop with star stablemate Ortensia at Sandown last month.That was a few days before Ortensia was flown to Hong Kong and ran a solid fifth to JJ The Jet Plane in the Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) at Sha Tin on December 12.Apart from the exhibition gallop
Mornington trainer Tony Noonan will try for a first-up longshot win with Ma Shang in Sunday's Christmas Stakes at Caulfield.
Ma Shang, who has won five races from 24 starts including three at Sandown and one at Flemington, was beaten in an exhibition gallop with star stablemate Ortensia at Sandown last month.
That was a few days before Ortensia was flown to Hong Kong and ran a solid fifth to JJ The Jet Plane in the Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) at Sha Tin on December 12.
Apart from the exhibition gallop, the Zerpour six-year-old also had a 1000m barrier trial at Moe on December 1 finishing a length third to Belgietto who has subsequently won twice at Flemington.
Noonan's apprentice son Jake, who rode Ortensia in trackwork in Hong Kong, will ride Ma Shang for the first time in a race in Sunday's 1200m Listed feature.
However the gelding's task was made harder by drawing badly in gate 17 in the 16-horse field plus three emergencies.
Ma Shang, placed twice in five first-up runs, has won three of his eight runs over 1200m with two placings but has been placed just once in six outings at Caulfield.
A Sandown 1200m winner on a heavy track in May, he ran seventh to Doubtful Jack when tested over 1600m in the Listed Winter Championship Final at Flemington two starts back in July.
Noonan said Ortensia had come through her run in Hong Kong in good order and was scheduled to arrive back in Australia on December 28 before doing two weeks quarantine at Werribee.
He said the mare's likely first-up assignment would be the Group Two Australia Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on January 28.
Noonan ruled out a trip to Dubai for Ortensia in March but said there were some other appealing options including the KrisFlyer Sprint in Singapore in May and England after that "depending on how she is going".
The Peter Snowden-trained Offenders, who was an unlucky third to King Hoaks at Flemington last start, shares top billing at $5 with TAB Sportsbet with smart mare Miss Octopussy, an impressive last-start 1200m winner in easier grade at Caulfield on December 4.
Others given chances are smart first-up performer Huxssen at $6, About Ready ($7.50), Gold In Dubai ($9.50) with Keano at $10 and Grand Duels at $12.
Ma Shang is a $31 chance.