By John Schell
Randwick trainer John O’Shea will be keeping a close eye on the weather and track condition at Kembla Grange for Tuesday’s meeting as he plots the return to racing of a couple of talented stable runners.
O’Shea, who trains in partnership with Tom Charlton, is hoping for the Kembla track to dry out a little from heavy to soft to boost his chances of snaring a potential winning double.
John O’Shea has been impressed with the recent work of apprentice Braith Nock.Credit: Getty Images
O’Shea has Livin’ Thing and Lady Zodiac set to contest the Racing Mates Provincial Benchmark 64 Handicap (1000m), while the promising Straand Beauty is down to run in the JJJ Racing Punters Precinct 31st May Bennchmark 64 Handicap (1200m).
“Straand Beauty is a handy Exceed And Excel gelding that is having his first run for us and is first up from a spell,” O’Shea said. “But he has already shown his fair share of talent. He’s been placed in city company three times and has won a Wyong maiden.
“He’s had a couple of barrier trials in preparation for his return, and he’s looked good in both of them. We are just looking for a reasonable surface for him to kick off again in. He’s ready to go
though.”
Braith Nock takes the ride on Straand Beauty, and O’Shea is impressed with the apprentice.
“He’s ridden plenty of winners, and we’ve had a bit of luck with him and, importantly, he can still claim at the provincials, so that comes in handy,” O’Shea said.
Apprentice Anna Roper is booked to ride Livin’ Thing, while Tyler Schiller is down to ride Lady Zodiac.
“Depending on how the track is, there is the option to split them up and take one to Kembla Grange on Saturday instead,” O’Shea said. “They are both going well. Lady Zodiac has had the few runs back from a spell and raced well in each of them, including her last-start second at Kembla.
“And Livin’ Thing is first up after two trials. He won easily at his debut and then ran sixth in town before a third at Newcastle. He’s having his first start for us, but also looks a promising horse.”
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Champion Coasts to early favouritism
Craig Kerry
Country Championships winner Know Thyself was a $4.60 favourite for the $500,000 The Coast at Gosford on Saturday after 24 nominations were received for the 1600m feature for three and four-year-olds on Monday.
The Paul Messara and Leah Gavranich-trained Know Thyself will shoot for four consecutive wins in the headline race on Gosford’s annual standalone program. Chris Waller’s Wootton Verni was next in the early Sportsbet market at $6.
Hezashocka, from the Mick Price and Michael Kent jnr stable, was equal TAB favourite at $4.50 for the $300,000 Gosford Gold Cup (2100m) with New Endeavour (Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott).
Annabel and Rob Archibald-prepared Ostraka was top elect for the listed Takeover Target at $4.60 with Sportsbet. Joe Pride’s Accredited and Paul Snowden-trained Need Some Luck were next best at $6.
Gai import impresses in Randwick trial
Craig Kerry
The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained import Sir Delius was among the impressive trialists at Randwick on Monday.
The four-year-old Frankel entire, having his third trial in Australia, was pushed to the line by Tim Clark to score a three-quarter length win in a 1200m hit-out after racing just off the leader.
The horse, known then as Delius, was bought for a record 1.3 million guineas ($2.7 million) at the Tattersalls Autumn-Horses in Training Sale last October.
His six starts, all in France, produced three wins, including one at group 3 level, and placings in group 1 and 2 races. His most recent run was eighth in the famous Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe on October 6.
Coolmore’s $1.75 million colt United States and Doomben 10,000 favourite and future Rosemont Stud stallion Schwarz were other sharp winners on Monday.
