To say Shiraz has been in the wars lately is an understatement but with the care and attention of Kim Waugh, the gelding has delivered in the final stakes race of the Sydney season.
A $7.50 chance in Saturday’s Listed Winter Challenge at Rosehill, Shiraz rose to the occasion at his first attempt over 1500m to fight off Classic Uniform by a short head.
Minutes later, the Waugh-trained Oxford Poet won the open handicap at Doomben after she decided not to run him against his stablemate.
Formerly with Tony McEvoy, who trained him when he ran second in the 2016 Group One Galaxy, Shiraz has been with Waugh at Wyong since late last year for some encouraging runs without winning.
A fortnight earlier, the gelding was hit over the nose by a rival jockey’s whip and attempted return serve with a bite during his fourth placing in the Winter Stakes.
“He pulled a shoe off early in his preparation and took half his foot off,” Waugh said.
“We’ve had to put (hoof resin) Equilox in it. And then he got hit in the nose and tried to bite Josh Parr.
“He can be a cranky boy but he’s a lovely horse.
“He had worked really well at home and if I didn’t think he was worth going on with, I would have stopped.”
Classic Uniform ($6) led for most of the race and Jason Collett took a short cut on Shiraz along the rail in the straight to nab the win.
Slightly Sweet ($12), winner of the Winter Stakes, was another 1-1/4 lengths back in third.
“I was trying not to go too soon,” Collett said.
“He still doesn’t relax properly and I had to hold him up and then the run opened on the fence and it was a good win.”
Waugh’s two-state double was complemented by King Viv’s second at Doomben and Hetty Heights’ third at Rosehill.
“I sent Oxford Poet to Brisbane because it looked like a nice race for him,” Waugh said.
“He hadn’t won for 12 months so it was good to see and with King Viv and Hetty Heights both being placed, it’s been a pretty good day.”
