John O’Shea has Zou Tiger primed to strike in Fred Best
The lure of a $3m Stradbroke Handicap was enough for proud Queenslander John O’Shea to come back to his home state in search of its best race with Zou Tiger, who is gunning for a spot in it via the Fred Best Classic on Saturday.
O’Shea, who won the Stradbroke 20 years ago with Private Steer, is looking to get the golden ticket in with his three-year-old, who he said carries the right formlines to match up in the famous handicap.
Standing in his way is the Toowoomba sensation Yellow Brick, who is dominating betting, but O’Shea is backing in the Sydney form to prevail.
“He is probably a couple lengths off Aft Cabin, but he is a very handy horse,” O’Shea said of the three-year-old ranks.
“He missed the kick over six (furlongs) in the Arrowfield and got out of his ground a bit, he can improve a bit getting out to seven (furlongs) and we put blinkers on him that time.
“He was sluggish away and missed his spot, it buggered him up a bit so we take the blinkers off and put the winkers on here to see if he can jump a bit better.”
Winning the Stradbroke with three-year-old filly Private Steer in 2003, O’Shea is keen to go back to the well again with Zou Tiger, who is the highest rated horse in the race.
He has been well supported in betting, being backed from $7.50 into $5.50 since markets opened.
“Historically the good Group 2 three-year-olds in Sydney are competitive in a Stradbroke,” O’Shea said, adding he would have just 51.5kg on his back should he make the race.
“He is multiple Group 1 placed, so he is a decent enough horse for the race should he get there.
“It would be good, the $3m helps.”
O’Shea also saddles up Stroke Of Luck and Andalus in the Group 1 Queensland Derby on Saturday.
The Sydney-based trainer nominated Stroke Of Luck as his best hope in the race, after a slashing finish in the Rough Habit Plate.
“Stroke Of Luck went good in the Rough Habit, he didn’t get around Doomben and will be better at a mile and half at Eagle Farm,” he said of the $23 chance.
