An example of ‘owning’ a sprint race was just what Blake Shinn and Schwarz displayed in winning the Group 2 Australia Stakes at Moonee Valley in a prelude to a long weekend of racing.
The John O’Shea & Tom Charlton-trained sprinter followed-up two sharp trials in Sydney with a dominant win the 1200-metre feature with a two-length win under lights over the improving Steparty ($5) and Apache Song ($10), trained by Michael Trotter, a short margin away in third.
“He’s always been a horse we’ve liked with ability and class,” Charlton said.
“There were a couple of runs where he’s got it wrong but when he gets in a rhythm, he killed them halfway through the race and looked in control the whole way.
“It is a pleasing first-up run and I dare say he can improve on that.”
Group one events above the 1200-metre trip of the Australia Stakes lay ahead.
“It is now time to tick off a group one,” Charlton added.
“We definitely think he’ll handle 1400-metres so there is the Canterbury Stakes in Sydney and the Futurity at Caulfield.”
The 1400-metre trip of the Orr Stakes or the Canterbury Stakes could also show no fears for the son of sprint star Zoustar having won the Group 3 Hawkesbury Guineas over the same distance together with the Listed Amanda Elliott at Flemington (1400m) among his five wins in 10 starts to-date.
“He dominated that race.” jockey Blake Shinn said.”The horse took me where he wanted to be, and he did it from start to finish.
“He cantered to the barriers like an old open handicapper (and) I think If he can get a group one on his CV then he might be a valuable horse.
“If they decide to go to the Orr then he’ll be a hard, fit horse second-up.”
Schwarz is rated an $8 chance with betting sites behind Mr Brightside at $2.80 for the Orr Stakes on February 8 and a $15 chance for the Group 1 Canterbury Stakes at Randwick four weeks later.
