Five months after being sent around as one the fancied runners in a spring classic, a more mature King Of Thunder is being given a second bite at the Derby cherry.
The promising stayer will line up in the ATC Australian Derby (2400m) at Randwick on Saturday, four days after finishing a close third to Pocketing in the rescheduled Tulloch Stakes (2000m).
While the wash-out of last weekend’s Rosehill card has forced the tight turnaround, co-trainer John O’Shea is taking it in his stride and expects King Of Thunder will too.
“It is what it is,” O’Shea said.
“I don’t think there is any issue for him at the trip. He is executing his race plan so much better now as an older three-yar-old.
“We can go into Saturday’s race knowing we’ve got a fit horse that will be better suited on top of the ground that is going to run a strong mile-and-a-half.
“We’re looking forward to the day.”
King Of Thunder was in his first racing preparation when he placed in The Vase (2040m) at Moonee Valley last spring before starting a $6 chance when midfield in the Victoria Derby (2500m).
Experience and maturity have helped him to refine his craft and while wary of the Chris Waller-trained favourite Aeliana on Saturday, O’Shea is confident King Of Thunder won’t be a pushover.
“The filly is good and she was very good the other day,” O’Shea said, referring to Aeliana’s barnstorming second to Broadsiding in the Rosehill Guineas.
“But he started favourite in the Victoria Derby. He didn’t execute well there, he will execute well on Saturday.”
Sydney Cup aspirant Athabascan will move a step closer to his main goal when he tackles the Chairman’s Quality and with a three-kilo weight turnaround over last start conqueror Alalcance, he is expected to perform well.
However, O’Shea nominated Polymnia in the Adrian Knox Stakes (2000m) as the stable’s strongest chance on the program.
A daughter of Dundeel, O’Shea said the filly had drawn confidence from her dominant maiden win at Hawkesbury last start.
“She is a filly who has been very unlucky throughout her career and the other day we sent her for a kill and she got a kill. She thinks she is a bit alright now,” O’Shea said.
“We were treating her as a sprinter and it’s pretty evident she wants to get over a bit of ground.”
O’Shea will be chasing consecutive Adrian Knox Stakes wins after claiming the corresponding race with Good Banter 12 months ago.
