JOHNNY Marshall banged in a double at Happy Valley last night and with any luck in running it could well have been three for the former Sydney champion.
Marshall cemented his new partnership with David Hill by coming home late, hard and successfully on River Verdon's full-sister River Serein to take the third before making all on Parkview Fame for his old boss, John Moore, in the last.
But Marshall also looked decidedly unlucky in the opener when unable to get a clear run for most of the straight on Splendid, backed down to 5-2 favouritism to make a winning debut for the Moore camp.
Marshall switched out at the top of the straight as a gap did not look like materialising between Morning Patrol and Dashing Dragon in this first race.
But Tony Cruz on Gints To Win then allowed him no room either and by the time Splendid saw daylight it was too late.
He looked unlucky but by the same token Gints To Win hit the line pretty hard and it wouldn't have been easy for Splendid to make up the neck difference, room or no room.
