Dane Smith’s talented mare Spylark will be searching for back-to-back wins when she lines up in the 2050-metre Marma Cup at Murtoa on Saturday. 
The lightly raced six-year-old produced a stunning finish in heavy conditions at Bendigo a fortnight ago, finding a way to win from what looked an impossible position in the home straight. 
Jockey Jaylah Kennedy found herself in the second half of the field on settling from the 1600-metre chute, shuffled back to last on straightening and with many lengths to make up on the leaders. 
The young hoop didn’t panic, weaving a passage through the field and presenting a gap to Spylark with 150 metres left to travel, the daughter of Niagara smashing through and claiming a relatively soft win in the end. 
Smith’s mare has been racing in terrific fashion this preparation, unlucky not to win at Casterton first up before finishing second behind subsequent Flemington winner Em Sixty at Ballarat. 
This weekend will be the former barrier rogue’s first look beyond a mile, but the expected heavy conditions are in her favour with some strong formlines behind her.
Stick with Struggle
Paul Preusker’s speedy mare Struggle Street is another chasing consecutive wins, the four-year-old likely to take on the 975-metre dash at Swan Hill on Tuesday. 
The daughter of Street Boss caught the eye in a pair of jumpouts before an impressive first-up win at Warracknabeal, and only needs to hold her form to prove hard to beat again early next week. 
Simply appealing
The other runner to follow this weekend is Simply Sassy from the Matthew Williams stable, following a solid first-up effort on the synthetic at Ballarat. 
The Capitalist filly had trialled well at Warracknabeal earlier this month, finishing ahead of subsequent Mildura winner Star Of Beirut, and did well to finish as close as she did after blowing the start at Ballarat. 
With a clean getaway and fitness on her side second up, she can prove one of the better bets on a good card at Murtoa.