NZ bred gelding Marwood is on trial for a Group 1 assignment in the Caulfield Guineas (1600m) on October 12.

Marwood (3g O’Reilly – Pernod by Centaine) followed a debut win at Seymour with another strong performance in the BRB Electrical Hcp (1400m) at Bendigo on Sunday.

“That proves he’s the real deal,” jockey Nick Hall said after the Kiwi bred galloper scored by four lengths from Curragh King (Dylan Thomas).  “He’s going to be definitely up there and will be competitive this spring for sure.”

Trainer Michael Moroney will now target the G3 Caulfield Guineas Prelude with a view to taking on the cream of the crop in the Caulfield Guineas three weeks later.  Marwood is also nominated for the G1 Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) at Randwick on the same day as the Guineas.

Marwood is a half brother to G3 winner Martini Red (Red Ransom) and was a $210,000 purchase for Paul Moroney Bloodstock at the 2012 Inglis Easter yearling sale from the draft of Trelawney Stud.

Their dam Pernod (Centaine) won the G1 Invitation Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield in September 2002 beating Bel Esprit (Royal Academy).

O’Reilly (Last Tycoon) is based at Waikato Stud alongside Savabeel (Zabeel).  The latter has Eclair Big Bang (NZ) on course for the Caulfield Guineas after an encouraging third in the G2 Danehill Stakes at Flemington on Saturday.

The sire of 68 stakes winners, O’Reilly is stands for a $60,000 service fee at Waikato Stud.