When it comes to emerging equine talent in Mark Newnham’s Sydney stables, staying prospect Shadow Hero is high in the pecking order.
Shadow Hero steps up to 1800m in Saturday’s Group Three Gloaming Stakes at Rosehill on the way to spring targets over even greater distances.
Newnham is aiming Shadow Hero at the Group One Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) at Randwick and the Group One Victoria Derby (2500m) at Flemington.
“He’s got more promise than any horse in my stable, I’d imagine,” Newnham said.
“He’s just a really good staying three-year-old.
“He’s still got a bit of improvement to come going into Saturday and 1800 metres at Rosehill, I’m not sure if that’s his right distance.
“I’d say he will improve again after Saturday but once he gets to 2000 metres at Randwick and to Flemington over a mile and a half, that’s where his best runs will be.”
Newnham won last year’s Group One Spring Champion Stakes with filly Maid Of Heaven.
Shadow Hero has won one of his four starts, with victory in the Listed The Phoenix (1630m) for two-year-olds in Brisbane on June 1 before running fourth in the Group One JJ Atkins Stakes (1600m) a week later.
The gelding turned in an eye-catching run in his season return as a three-year-old in the Listed Dulcify Quality (1500m) at Rosehill on September 14, weaving through from back in the field to finish third.
“It was a very good run,” Newnham said.
“Every race he has been in, his last furlong has been his best so he will like getting up in trip.”
Dulcify Quality winner Just Thinkin’ was the early $2.90 favourite on Wednesday after a field of 13 was declared, while Shadow Hero was $3.60 along with New Zealand three-year-old Quick Thinker, who won the Ming Dynasty Quality (1400m) four weeks ago at Rosehill in his first Sydney appearance.
