The Epsom Handicap hopes of several Shannon Stakes runners could be extinguished by a horse with no big-race ambitions this spring.
Hosting, Ashokan, Our Desert Warrior and possibly Your Honour need to win on Saturday to book their spot in the Group One field.
Single, a horse laden with talent but prone to soundness issues, was considered for an Epsom tilt before trainer Craig Carmody decided to take a more conservative road.
“I did think about it but I was just trying to get the horse back on track again,” Carmody said.
“The race looked really strong. I think we’ve done the right thing.
“There are a few options over the carnival for him that are at that second tier level.”
Single resumed with a solid fourth to Epsom favourite Boban over 1300m at Rosehill.
Carmody weighed up sending him to Newcastle for last week’s Cameron Handicap before logic steered him towards Saturday’s Group Two Shannon Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill.
“I was going to go to Newcastle and it looked pretty hard,” Carmody said.
“He’s got an appreciation for Rosehill and this race being a week out from the Epsom, I thought it might not be so strong.”
Single has won six races, five of them at Rosehill.
Carmody has deliberately kept him fresh for Saturday’s race but his confidence has been dented by a wide draw.
“I’ve been delighted with the way he’s come through his last run,” Carmody said.
“We’ve got a poor barrier but we’ve just got to deal with that and he’s going well enough to run a nice race for us.”
Victorians dominate betting on the Shannon with the Greg Eurell-trained Your Honour a $4.20 favourite while his stablemate Hosting is at $6.50.
Peter Moody’s High Esteem ($5) splits Eurell’s pair.
