Rival trainer John O’Shea has taken a vested interest in the career of Jamaea and he has liked what he has seen.
Jamaea just edged out O’Shea’s filly Robodira when they finished second and third respectively in the Magic Night Stakes in March.
Robodira subsequently went to the paddock, while the Robert and Luke Price-trained Jamaea went on to win the $1 million Percy Sykes Stakes before resuming with a fourth in the Silver Shadow Stakes last month.
O’Shea has been buoyed by those formlines ahead of Robodira’s return in Saturday’s Furious Stakes (1200m) at Randwick where Jamaea will be among her rivals.
“She has definitely improved and that sort of formline through Jamaea out of the Magic Night, I think that’s really strong form,” O’Shea said.
“Her and Jamaea finished side by side in the Magic Night and Jamaea went on and won the Percy Sykes, so she’s got good form that ties in.”
A daughter of Husson, Robodira is out of Redoute’s Choice mare Don’t Blink, a pedigree that O’Shea describes as “speed on speed”.
As such, she is unlikely to pursue the remaining two legs of Sydney’s Princess Series races with O’Shea more likely to consider sprinting options in Melbourne.
Peter and Paul Snowden won three of the four Princess series races with Dame Giselle last spring, including the Furious, and will saddle up Najmaty on Saturday.
The talented filly returned with a tale of woe from her first-up fourth in the Quezette Stakes at Caulfield where she stormed home for fourth after being last on the home turn.
Peter Snowden reported she had travelled back to Sydney well and expected her to figure in the finish.
“She works well on the track but she’s definitely a better racehorse than she is a trackworker,” Snowden said.
“We’re more than happy with what she’s being doing at home and second-up off a nice draw should see her run well.”
Najmaty shares the second line of TAB fixed odds markets at $5, alongside Four Moves Ahead.
The Chris Waller-trained She’s All Class is an early $4.20 favourite with Robodira a $34 chance.
