Randwick trainer John O’ Shea has had a career best season in terms of number of winners, and is firmly in the top five on the Sydney Trainers Premiership. But he wants to continue his winning ways and is confident of doing that on Saturday at Warwick Farm with a couple of strong hopes.
After a strong first up effort on the Kensington circuit, Duke Of Cornwall steps up to Saturday company when he lines up in the Happy 35th Birthday M Tartak Benchmark 75 Handicap (1200m). Although he seemed to carry extra condition, the son of Encosta De Lago proved too strong for his rivals and O’ Shea reckons punters will see a much fitter horse on Saturday.
“He has improved quite a bit since his first up effort,” He said.
“I’m very happy with the way he is going heading towards the weekend.”
Drawn barrier one, the gelding does have very good gate speed and the trainer will instruct rider Nash Rawiller to take full advantage of it.
“He gets out of the gates very fast so I anticipate he’ll be on the tempo and be in the first couple.”
“The concern for me is the heavy track, and although he hasn’t run on anything worse than slow, the breeding suggests he’ll get through it ok.”
Fist Of Fury was retired but has since rejoined the O’Shea stables at Randwick. He resumed at Rosehill three weeks ago and failed to beat a runner home. He has since trialled on Tuesday in readiness for the weekend. He is set to tackle Rain Affair in the At Sea Handicap (1200m).
“He was retired at the end of last prep, but he needed the exercise so he was brought back so the owners could get some sort of prizemoney with him.”
“We weren’t expecting too much at Rosehill, but having said that he was most disappointing.”
“He trialled on Tuesday and it was sound, without being spectacular.”
“Obviously it’ll be hard with the $1.40 favourite (Rain Affair) in the race, but he himself is having his first start at 1200m on a bog track, and we all know there is no such thing as a good thing in racing, so I think Fist Of Fury is a sneaky exotic chance.”
Kiss ‘N’ Chase rounds out the stables runners at Warwick Farm when the daughter of Red Ransom tackles the Warwick Farm 100 Club Benchmark 84 Handicap (1600m).
“She is my best chance for the day,” O’ Shea said.
“She was very impressive winning at Randwick last start and has come on well since.”
The mare’s form suggests that she may struggle at 1600m, but the trainer thinks otherwise.
“I don’t have any major worries about the distance,” He said.
“Her sibling that I train, Kick ‘N’ Chase, won at 1800m so I think she’ll get a strong mile.”
Written by Adam Page
