Sydney Swans’ star Tom Papley has upstaged Hollywood actor Matt Damon to win the opening race at Randwick’s Kensington meeting with first starter Getafix.
One of the Swans’ most high-profile players, Papley part-owns Getafix with a couple of his former teammates, Ryan Clarke and Paddy McCartin.
While Papley was in a training camp at Coffs Harbour and couldn’t be trackside for the win, there was plenty of cheering when the John O’Shea -trained youngster raced away with Wednesday’s Earthlight First Yearlings Plate (1250m).
Adding to the race’s celebrity flavour was Damon, one of the box office’s biggest drawcards, who shares in the ownership of rival runner Dale, that horse finishing sixth, just behind $2.5 million yearling buy Railway Man.
O’Shea said Getafix was a good example of the buoyancy of Sydney racing and the increasing number of people keen to be part of the industry.
“This is a perfect example – a $100,000 horse,” O’Shea said.
“You don’t need to spend a lot to be effective and that’s the great thing about our game, everyone can be a participant and have a bit of luck.”
O’Shea doesn’t expect Papley and his fellow owners to have their luck run out anytime soon.
He has a healthy opinion of Getafix, who had to shoulder clear at the top of the straight to chase down leader Zealously , scoring by a length with Cinsault another 2-1/4 lengths in arrears.
The winner is set to be given a short break and prepared for longer races towards the backend of the autumn.
“It was very good for a young two-year-old to bullock his way through,” O’Shea said.
“He had plenty to offer, it was just a matter of getting the right run, so we’re really proud of him.
“We’ve also felt he will be better suited at 1400 to a mile, so I’ll probably give him a little break now and then come back at the latter part of the autumn.
“He’s got himself on the board, he’s had a good day out and when the races get a little bit longer, we will probably see him to effect there.”
The victory by Getafix continues O’Shea’s outstanding start to the year with the Randwick trainer currently striking at a rate of around one winner every three runners.
With the retirement of horses like his top sprinter Lost And Running last year, O’Shea is looking to the next generation to continue stepping up to the plate.
“We had a bit of a clean out of the stable over the last couple of months of last year, which was important knowing we had a strong hand coming through in terms of some good young horses,” O’Shea said.
“We’re very optimistic looking forward.”
