About the only thing Steven O’Dea and Matthew Hoysted have not done with their small team in Melbourne is win a Group 1 race.
That could all change on Saturday when they saddle Uncommon James and Shooting For Gold in the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate at Sandown.
Hoysted has been in Melbourne looking after the two sprinters along with last week’s Flemington winner Scallopini after those three horses were in Melbourne last spring, each being successful.
Uncommon James enters Saturday’s race off the back of a first-up second to Lofty Strike in the Group 2 Rubiton Stakes (1100m) on February 11, while Shooting For Gold has not raced since finishing second to King Of Sparta in the Magic Millions Sprint at the Gold Coast last month.
Hoysted said Uncommon James had improved tremendously out of his first-up showing.
“He pulled up a bit big after that, as you would expect being first-up after that long off,” Hoysted said.
“He’s tightened up and we couldn’t be happier with him going into the Oakleigh Plate.
“He had a couple of easy days after the race, but he’s had the work stepped up since and he looks right up to the mark.”
As Shooting For Gold had not raced since January 19, Hoysted gave the five-year-old a jump-out at Flemington on February 10.
Hoysted said Shooting For Gold was race fit and needed that jump-out in place of a serious gallop.
“He’s rock hard fit, and race fit so we’re happy with where he’s at,” Hoysted said.
“He’s going really well, and at his best is definitely up to it, but he just needs everything to go his way.”
While Shooting For Gold has not raced at Sandown, Hoysted took advantage of taking the galloper out to Sandown more than three weeks ago for a look at the track.
He joined Uncommon James for a gallop over Saturday’s course prior to his stablemates run in the Rubiton Stakes.
“We wanted to give him a look at the track as it can be a bit tricky, especially going down then up that dip,” Hoysted said.
“He handled that OK so hopefully we can get a good hot tempo, which he needs, and he’ll be finishing off late.”
