Trainer John O’Shea eyes Brisbane winter carnival riches, stable star Lost And Running sent for a spell

TRAINER John O’Shea has sent stable star Lost And Running for a spell but is still hopeful of making his mark on the Brisbane carnival with Stroke Of Luck and Andalus in the Group 1 $700,000 Queensland Derby (2400m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday.

Lost And Running, winner of more than $4.3 million, had tough runs on wet tracks when unplaced in the TJ Smith Stakes and All Aged Stakes last month which prompted O’Shea not to continue with the sprinter’s season.

“After Lost And Running had those hard runs on heavy tracks from wide draws, I just felt we needed to start again,’’ O’Shea said.

“So, instead of keeping him going for Brisbane he’s gone for a break and we will try for The Everest again in the spring. We will go along the same road and hope someone picks him up.’’

O’Shea confirmed Stroke Of Luck and new stable recruit Andalus will contest the Queensland Derby.

Stroke Of Luck ran on well for third behind Special Swey in the Rough Habit Plate while Andalus is having his first start for O’Shea after finishing seventh in the ATC Australian Derby last month.

“I’m very happy with both horses, they are genuine mile-and-a-half (2400m) horses,’’ O’Shea said.

“Stroke Of Luck had a burn around at Doomben last start and is better suited at Eagle Farm over 2400m.

“Andalus is a really nice horse who ran second in the NZ Derby and ran well at Randwick in the Derby.’’

Stroke Of Luck ($11) and Andalus ($15) are in the market for the Queensland Derby which is dominated by the Chris Waller-trained Kovalica with $1.90 favouritism on TAB Fixed Odds.

Waller, who broke through the $40 million prizemoney barrier for the season last Saturday, also has Special Swey in the Derby as he chases a 12th Group 1 win for the season.

But the honour of being the nation’s leading Group 1 trainer for 2022-23 is going to go down to the wire with Godolphin’s James Cummings also on 11 majors while the Ciaron Maher-David Eustace stable is making a late season surge after securing their 10th big-race win with Royal Merchant in The Goodwood at Morphettville last Saturday.

Maher and Eustace dominated the Adelaide carnival winning three of the four Group 1 races including Affaire A Suivre in the Australasian Oaks.

Affaire A Suivre trials at Hawkesbury on Monday morning in preparation for the Group 1 $700,000 Queensland Oaks (2200m) at Eagle Farm on June 3 where her opponents are likely to include Fireburn, outstanding winner of The Roses last Saturday.

YOU CAN BET ON IT

TAB Fixed Odds took some big bets for Bois D’Argent who was backed from $6 to $5 after bets of $5,000 at $5, and multiple wagers of $2,000 and $1,000 at $5 before he won the Lord Mayor’s Cup.

Doomben Cup winner Huetor opened the day at $11, got into $9.50 at one stage but drifted back to $11. He accounted for only seven per cent of the market despite being the third best-backed runner in the race.

Zaaki dominated Doomben Cup betting and held close to 65% of all bets but after leading for home, the $2.15 favourite faded to run seventh.

FIVE TO FOLLOW

Celestial Legend (race 1) was very impressive scoring in Saturday class at just his second race start. The grey colt has a lot going for him as he is loaded with natural talent, blessed with brilliant acceleration, bred to get over further and is trained by the maestro, Les Bridge.

Al Aabir (race 7) was a certainty beaten. He was held up for a run most of the straight and when clear charged home to be beaten narrowly in a tight three-way finish. Emerging stayer ready to win.

Let Me Reign (race 5) deserves more credit for her win. She carted the field up to tearaway frontrunner Territory Express, forged to the front and had the temerity to ward off challengers to win. Tough filly who deserves her chance in the Queensland Oaks.

Rediener (race 6) is flying this preparation. He landed in front by default early but showed his class to control the race and win easily. Promising three-year-old who can keep winning.

Cotehele (race 8) showed incredible finishing speed to win. He responded to being ridden conservatively early and there was no fluke about this effort.

TURF TALK

“I would have been shocked if he had been beaten, he has so much natural ability,’’ said trainer Les Bridge of Celestial Legend.

“It wasn’t the plan to lead at all, I was told to be midfield. After 100m I thought ‘this will be my last ride for Chris (Waller) because now I’m in front and it wasn’t the plan’,’’ said apprentice Jasper Franklin after leading all the way on Rediener.

“She’s only small but she has a big heart,’’ said David Payne, trainer of Sweet Mercy.

“This filly tries very hard. She doesn’t have a big sprint but she keeps grinding away. She’s a gutsy filly. I didn’t put her in the original entries for the Queensland Oaks but I rang the club and they told me that Wednesday is the cut-off so this filly will be going in as a late nomination,’’ said Cherie Curtis, trainer of Let Me Reign.

“Bois D’Argent was really, really tough today. I think he’s a nice horse and he will pick a few more of these off before he’s done, don’t worry,’’ said jockey Regan Bayliss.

“Cotehele had to ‘check paths, check paths’ then pick himself up and accelerate. It was a really good effort by the horse to still get up and win,’’ said jockey Tom Sherry.

CRUNCH TIME

Devil’s Throat (race 4) ran home his final 600m in a fast 33.32s to score an impressive first-up win.

Robusto (race 4) ran successive 200m splits from the 600m in 10.90s and 10.88s – the fastest sectionals of the day – and his overall time for the final 600m of 33.29s was the best of the meeting.

Smartawi (race 5) was back near last and giving away an impossible start on the turn but he ran his final 600m in 34.49s with a closing 200m of 11.83s – impressive sectionals at the end of a 2000m race.

Cotehele (race 8) finished like a rocket to win. He was held up behind a wall of horses in the straight but found an opening charged home his final 200m in 11.25s.

Daralina Belle (race 10) got too far back mid-race and ran only sixth but finished off her final 600m in 33.33 and 200m in 11.15s which was the best closing sectional of the meeting.

STEWARDS SAY

Celestial Legend (race 1 was hampered early when held up from the 400m before being directed to the outside of the heels of Ostraka approaching the 200m but was still able to win.

Tradition (race 5) was placed under full pressure the home straight but jockey Chad Schofield reported the gelding did not feel comfortable in its action. Tradition’s action deteriorated over the final 100m and he was not tested to the finish.

Rediener (race 5) began well and apprentice Jasper Franklin took the initiative and allowed his mount to improve into the lead rather than run the risk of being caught wide without cover. Rediener controlled the race tempo and won easily.

Al Aabir (race 7) shifted out on jumping and bumped with Gambu. After leaving the 300m became held up and had to be checked from the heels of Sir Lamorak. Remained held up until the 100m.

Sir Lamorak (race 7) considered a protest lodged by D Gibbons rider of runner-up Sir Lamorak against Outlandos being declared the winner alleging interference at the 100m and again at the 50m. Stewards established Outlandos had come from a position behind Sir Lamorak and despite making minor contact with that horse at the 100m and again near the 50m, the protest was dismissed.

RANDWICK SNAPSHOT WITH RON DUFFICY

RUN OF THE DAY.

It was hard not to be impressed with Celestial Legend surging late for a dominant win.

The J J Atkins in Queensland might come up a bit soon for this two-year-old but I think we have to trust whatever trainer Les Bridge decides to do with him.

FORGET THEY RAN.

The consistent Al Aabir didn’t have luck on his side at vital stages in the straight. I don’t think there would be too many arguments that he would have won if things fell into place a little better.

THE BLACK BOOK.

There’s a few other fringe dwellers to follow but I don’t think you will go wrong following Celestial Legend going forward. In saying that I think the Spring could well be more his go with his pedigree.

RIDE OF THE DAY.

Reece Jones is a young man with a big future. He got his confidence up riding a Group winner at Scone last week and backed it up with a fantastic winning treble this week. Reece is not far off coming out of his apprenticeship, he rides light and is sure to keep improving with confidence, maturity and age.

NSW RACING – THE WEEK AHEAD

#What’s on in NSW racing this week:

Monday: Albury, Taree

Tuesday: Kembla Grange

Wednesday: Canterbury

Thursday: Gosford, Bathurst

Friday: Goulburn, Casino, Warwick Farm trials

Saturday: Royal Randwick, Kembla Grange