Mike Moroney-trained Shenzou Steeds is Queensland-bound for the second year in a row with next month’s Ipswich Cup one of his major goals.
The former New Zealander is on the rise after winning the Cleanevent Handicap (1600m) at Flemington second-up and has now won four of his seven starts since joining the stable a year ago.
Ridden by Craig Newitt, Shenzhou Steeds looked in control of Saturday’s race a long way from home and after settling third powered away on the slow track to a 1-1/4 length victory over Eraset and Kallogg.
“He is a very progressive horse and quite exciting for the owners,” Moroney’s racing manager Anthony Feroce said.
“He will possibly go to Queensland because Mike thinks he goes better right handed,”
While Shenzhou Steeds won once in five starts in New Zealand he found instant success last year with Moroney when he flew straight to Queensland and won three races in a row including the Sunshine Coast Guineas.
He had only two more runs in the spring last year and Feroce said the gelding was never at his top.
At Seymour he finished second to Under The Eiffel, who he beat in the Sunshine Coast Guineas, and then was fifth to He’s Remarkable at Flemington.
“He just wasn’t right in the spring but we gave him a good break and he’s come back much better,” Feroce said.
He said Shenzhou Steeds had no luck first-up when he got locked away on the fence with 60kg and finished ninth at Flemington on April 14 but showed his class on Saturday.
“He’s going to go up to Queensland on the up,” Feroce said.
The Ipswich Cup (2100m) is on June 16 but Shenzhou Steeds could have one more run in Melbourne before making the trip north.
