John O’Shea admits Napoleonic will have his work cut out for him when he lines up in the Group 3 Eskimo Prince Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill on Saturday.
The son of late sire Wootton Basset announced himself as one of the better colts of his generation with a 4-¼ length romp in the Group 3 Red Anchor Stakes (1200m) on Cox Plate day.
O’Shea, who trains in partnership with Tom Charlton, opted to spell the Pinecliff Racing owned colt after the Red Anchor and has been pleased with how he’s matured, winning his most recent trial at Randwick.
“He’s great, I’m really happy with him,” O’Shea said.
“He’s trialled up well and made a bit of psychical improvement from last season so we’re looking forward to Saturday.
While O’Shea is happy with how Napoleonic has returned, he admits Saturday’s race and subsequent Autumn targets will be a new test, with star filly Tempted among his Eskimo Prince rivals.
“She’s the benchmark,” O’Shea said.
“She should’ve nearly won an Everest. In terms of 1200 metre sprinters in Australia, especially three-year-olds, there’s none better than her.
“So we’re respectful of her, and we know that we’re going to have to be right at the best of our game to be competitive.”
O’Shea isn’t expecting a performance quite like the Red Anchor rout but is hoping to get a good guide on where Napoleonic sits amongst the best three-year-olds.
“That was his day, fourth up, he’d had a good foundation going into it,” O’Shea said.
“It was a good day for him to let rip. Saturday is a bit different, he’s got a long campaign ahead, so whatever he does he’ll improve off, but he’s done enough work to run well.
The stable are keeping their options open with Napoleonic for this campaign, which could even extend to the Brisbane Winter carnival.
“I think we’re just going to go to the Hobartville and make a decision from there,” O’Shea said.
“What the horse can achieve will be defined by what he does is his first two starts.
“I think 1400 (metes) will pull him up, there’s plenty of races up to that trip.
“But if he is effective in both those races that will give us a guide as to what he can achieve in the autumn, and if we end up deciding to go to the Winter in Queensland, well that’s also an option.”
Napoleonic is a $3.60 second elect in all-in markets for the Eskimo Prince with Tempted dominating betting at $1.50.
