After a thrilling Saturday with Lady Laguna bringing home the Group 1 Canterbury Stakes, we look forward to another busy weekend with four stakes runners set to take their place at Caulfield & Rosehill.
Talented two-miler Selino could potentially race again on Saturday at Caulfield, taking his place in the Listed Victoria Gold Cup over 2000m. The 8-year-old will be targeting the Sydney Cup later on in the autumn and is slowly stepping out in distance each run to progress further towards his campaign goal. While the 2000m journey is well short of his best, we expect him to stay through the line well and again take good improvement from the run.
At Rosehill, Cepheus and Hezashocka will meet in the Group 2 Ajax Stakes over 1500m. Cepheus, who won the Ajax last year, has been racing consistently since early last year with trainer Matt Dunn making a point to space out his runs to keep him fresh. His targets could include races like the G1 George Ryder Stakes, G1 Doncaster Handicap and G1 All Aged Stakes over the next two months. His return run on sloppy ground can be forgiven, so if the rain steers clear of Rosehill we’re sure he’ll be running a much more competitive race.
While it has been in a little while since we last saw Hezashocka in the winners circle, the gelding has returned in good order and brings great form lines from the previous autumn. Hezashocka has had two trials leading into the G2 Ajax this Saturday and will head up to Sydney on Wednesday night. Proven best at 2000m, we’re keen to see him winning again, so races like the G3 Neville Selwood Stakes and G3 JRA Plate are on the agenda.
Our third runner at Rosehill is Athabascan, who will take his place in the Group 3 Sky High Stakes over 2000m. Second up after a pleasing run in the Group 1 Verry Elleegant Stakes at Randwick two weeks ago, the gelding has come along well in his work and will appreciate the step up in distance.
“He pulled up great from his last run and had a gallop on the course proper with Tommy Berry in the saddle. Tommy’s comments were most positive, he’s a lovely, clean winded horse and worked very sharp. We can’t fault the horse in any way and Tommy will take the ride on him on Saturday.”, commented Tom Charlton from the O’Shea stable.
Athabascan is on a path towards the G1 Tancred Stakes and G1 Sydney Cup in mid-April, where he’s been allocated just 50.5kgs.
We wish all connections involved the best of luck with their horses on the weekend!
