Shared Ambition too good in Australian debut

Only weeks after arriving in the country, lightly raced Irish import Shared Ambition has made a winning start to his Australian career at Caulfield.

A three-year-old to northern hemisphere time but racing as a four-year-old in Australia, Shared Ambition stepped out for his new trainer Chris Waller in Saturday’s Grassroots Sports Club For Mirabel Handicap (1800m) and the $3.40 favourite came from last in a field of six to score by 1-1/4-lengths.

Shared Ambition, who won two of his three starts in Ireland earlier this year, arrived last month in Melbourne and completed two weeks quarantine at Werribee before settling in at Waller’s Flemington stables over the past three weeks.

“He came here in really good order,” Waller’s Melbourne stable representative Jo Taylor said.

“He has settled in really well to the Australian style of training and obviously now racing as well.

“He had a good jump-out last Friday with Michael Walker aboard and even after the line that’s when he was doing his strongest work in the jump-out.

“And he showed that today.

“I was a touch concerned about the slow tempo but even in his trial Michael said he felt quite sharp and forward for a European galloper.”

Ridden by apprentice Teo Nugent who claimed 2kg off the gelding’s 60kg impost in the benchmark 78 race, Shared Ambition defeated Firstclass Dreamer with Aristocratic Miss another half-head away third.

“I think we can really expect a stronger, more improved horse when it gets to the autumn,” Taylor said.

“But there’s no reason why he can’t still continue and carry on with it this preparation.

“I think we can expect a few nice things from this horse.”