Trainer John O"Shea reports on the Godolphin runners at Flemington and Rosehill on March 18.
FLEMINGTON
TOGA PICTA (Ben Melham): “He won at Wyong so he steps up to Group company but he’s a really talented young horse and the move up to 1400 at Flemington will really suit him. I expect to see him hitting the line strongly.”
Race 5 - Kewney Stakes (1400m)FRAGONARD (Joao Moreira): “Fragonard’s an exceptionally talented filly, she just has some difficult idiosyncrasies in terms of travel so we’ve tried to keep her in Sydney as long as possible and send her down late and hope she settles in. She didn’t settle in at all in the spring. But if she can run up to her work and the ability she’s shown us at home she’ll be more than competitive.”
Race 6 - Matron Stakes (1600m)CIRCULAR (Joao Moreira): “Her pet distance is a mile on firm ground, which she is going to get on Saturday. She’s been going really well in Sydney on wet tracks and is a nice chance.”
Race 8 - TAB Australian Cup (2000m)TALLY (Joao Moreira): “He’s been set for this race, third up at 10 furlongs is ideal for him. He’s run third in a G1 Turnbull Stakes so he’s more than capable at this grade. He’s going to come to a nice peak. It’ll be interesting to see how the race pans out. If it’s a normal Australian Cup with no speed, he’ll take a forward position with Joao Moreira on his back and I think he can be competitive.”
Race 3 - Cafe Culture + Insitu Pago Pago Stakes (1200m)
CORUSCATE (William Buick): “He was on a very heavy track at Randwick at his last start and I thought he was a little bit eager coming up over the rise. He’s back to a firmer surface on Saturday and his work’s been exceptional and he’s seasoned up really nicely for a race of this calibre, so he’s probably the better chance of the two.”SCHUBERT (Kerrin McEvoy): “He’s stepping up to stakes grade on Saturday, but the transition from midweek company to stakes grade isn’t that great at this time of year. He’s a very talented colt and he’ll acquit himself well.”
Race 4 - Magic Night Stakes (1200m)ALIZEE (William Buick): “Alizee had a very unfortunate first-up run so I took her back to the trials just to build some confidence and to remind her how to execute well in a race. She’s an extremely talented filly and if she was to get a nice run and if she ran up to her work she’d be extremely competitive.”
Race 5 - McGrath Sky High Stakes (2000m)ALLERGIC (William Buick): “We’re going to back up Allergic this Saturday. He’s a horse who always takes a few runs to come to hand, he really appreciates a strong rider on him, so to have a really strong ride like William Buick is great.”
MAGIC HURRICANE (Sam Clipperton): “He was exceptional at Group One level last start. He loves to get his toe in the ground and third up at 10 furlongs is ideal for him.”Race 6 - Phar Lap Stakes (1500m)
ACHI BABA (Tye Angland): “He’ll roll along up on the speed or in front. Unfortunately for him he missed his second up run when the meeting was washed out so it may just compromise him being second up at 1500 after a three-week break but he’s in good form and more than capable in a race like this, I just would have loved to have had one more run under his belt.”BEZEL (William Buick): “He had a slow start to his preparation and consequently we took him back to the trials where he acquitted himself very well. He gets to 1500 which is a nice distance for him and his work’s been very sharp. Whether he’s effective in rain affected ground is yet to be seen, but we’re very happy with the horse.”
Race 8 - Hyland Ajax Stakes (1500m)FLOODLIGHT (Jay Ford): “He’s a French import who is a genuine Group-class staying horse. I think 1500 is well short of his best distance, but as long as he’s hitting the line we’ll be more than happy.”
IT'S SOMEWHAT (William Buick): “He’s been a really strong campaigner for Godolphin for the last couple of years. He’ll need to run first-up but he’s in very good order. His work was first class this morning and he’s in for another good campaign. We’ve got him a bit bigger than we’d have him normally because his main target will be the Doomben Cup.”LISTEN | @godolphin trainer #JohnOShea joined @MattHeraldSun on @RSN927 to talk William Buick and this weekend. https://t.co/PybFFQoZMB pic.twitter.com/sjdS7piixh
— Godolphin (@godolphin) March 8, 2017
