A forecast for wet weather in Sydney will almost certainly prompt training partners John O’Shea and Tom Charlton to take a pair of mares to Brisbane in search of a firmer surface.
The Bureau of Meteorology is predicting up to 60 mils of rain in Sydney over the next three days and given that neither Junqueira nor Countyourblessings is at their best on wet ground, O’Shea says they are unlikely to take their place in Saturday’s Listed Razor Sharp Handicap (1200m) at Randwick.
Both have also been paid up for the Listed Just Now Quality (1300m) at Eagle Farm and that is shaping as the preferred option.
“Just as a result of the weather, I think they will go to Brisbane,” O’Shea said shortly after acceptances were taken for both meetings on Wednesday.
Junqueira has had a disjointed campaign with her trainers scratching her several times due to wide draws.
After finishing just over three lengths from Husk first-up at Randwick in September, she didn’t race again for seven weeks, striking trouble when unplaced in a race on The Hunter undercard.
She has the inside gate at Eagle Farm and O’Shea has warned punters not to underestimate her.
“The other day she was about to run well and got galloped on,” he said.
“We were optimistic about her at Newcastle, and it didn’t go our way. She is one that can bounce back and it wouldn’t surprise us.”
Countyourblessings has also drawn low in barrier three and tackles the fillies and mares’ feature first-up.
She has a handy record fresh, and O’Shea has been pleased with her build up.
“She is in great form. She has trialled up really well,” he said.
“We’re trying to jag some black type for her ownership group, and we’ll see if we can do it on Saturday.”
The Just Now Quality is one of three stakes races at Eagle Farm on Saturday, although the afternoon’s drawcard is the $300,000 The Gateway (1400m).
The latter doesn’t have black-type status, but the winner gains automatic entry into the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) during the Brisbane winter carnival.
