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Debutante For O'Shea A Stroll In The Park

SYDNEY, Saturday 21 January, 2012 - Former Queensland mare Alberton Park made a successful debut for the Randwick stable of John O’Shea when taking out Saturday’s Australian Turf Club Handicap (1200m) at Rosehill Garden this afternoon.

O’Shea described Alberton Park as "uncomplicated” and said the key to her progression in the Sydney autumn carnival was to get another win on the board.

ABOVE: Alberton Park charges to victory this afternoon at Rosehill Gardens.

O'Shea didn't mince words when he told owner Tony Bott what he expected of the new stable acquisition.

"I told Tony this morning if she doesn't run well we are in a world of pain because she's done nothing wrong," O'Shea said.

O'Shea's judgment was vindicated as Alberton Park was impressive at her Sydney debut, scoring a comfortable win

"She’s a very uncomplicated little mare. Her trials have been good. Her work has been good and she raced accordingly,” O’Shea said.

"We’ve welcomed her into the stable. The biggest thing with these mares is to get them winning and she’s done that now.”

The Randwick horseman is eying off the Listed Wiggle Stakes over 1400 metres to be run at Warwick Farm on March 10.

Winning jockey Chad Schofield said he was "pretty confident” about Alberton Park’s prospects rounding the home turn.

The rising apprentice slotted the five-year-old in fourth position, one off the fence before peeling widest and rolling before the point of the turn.

Alberton Park responded to Schofield riding in the early part of the straight and quickly reeled in early leaders Forward Love and Rosie’s Reward.

The mare went to the post with a comfortable margin over First Look, who grabbed second ahead of Hatton Garden.

"She jumped well but lost her footing. Luckily not too bad and was able to get across into the one-out-one-back position,” Schofield said.

"There was an opportunity to come out and Mr O’Shea said before the race to try and get her rolling so I took the opportunity and she circled the field and was too good.”

Alberton Park On Debut For O'Shea

SYDNEY, Thursday 19 January, 2012 - Former Queensland galloper Alberton Park will be "highly competitive” when the mare makes her debut for Randwick trainer John O’Shea in Saturday’s Australian Turf Club Handicap (1200m) at Rosehill Gardens.

The daughter of Thorn Park has won five of her 28 starts but has finished runner-up on 11 occasions.

O’Shea described Alberton Park as a "big mare who is easy to train” and suggested not to read into her relatively low win strike rate when assessing her chances on Saturday.

"Her trials and trackwork are indicative that she’ll be highly competitive first up on Saturday,” O’Shea said.

"I never make my assessment of a horse until I see it work or race under my care."

“Tony Bott heads up the ownership of the mare and he was kind enough to send her to me and hopefully we can repay his patronage as we are very appreciative of his support.”

Alberton Park finished fourth behind Rain Affair in a Randwick barrier trial in December. The five-year-old has since won a Rosehill trial over 900 metres.

The trainer said punters could expect the five-year-old to be in the right spot in Saturday’s race.

"She’ll race on the speed and I would be surprised if she’s not in the finish, as her fitness levels have taken significant improvement since her two trials.” O’Shea added.

Chad Schofield takes the reins for Saturday’s assignment. O’Shea said the "extra 2kg off will only aid her performance,” of making a successful debut for the in-form trainer.

O’Shea will also saddle up runners in the form of Riding To Win, Romanus and Think Mink at Rosehill.

“All three are very fit and at their peak to perform, it is even racing on Saturday and the overall track condition and the way it plays along with barrier draws will be the determining factors as to our success on Saturday.”

“I’m very happy with all our charges on Saturday and look forward to saddling them up.”

Number One Gun Wins Wealthiest Maiden!

GOLD COAST, Saturday 14 January, 2012 - Randwick horseman John O’Shea drew first blood at today’s Magic Millions carnival at the Gold Coast when Number One Gun led all the way to win

Australia

’s richest Maiden.

Jim "Pumper" Cassidy was at his brilliant best when asserting his dominace right from the jump, taking up the running and controlling the tempo.

Number One Gun kicked away halfway up the straight to land the $100,000 BMW Magic Milllions Maiden Plate (1200m).

The Champion Thoroughbreds gelding was three-quarters of a length clear over Viking Heart and Bolero Dancer 1-1/4 lengths away in third.

A three-year-old son of Mossman, Number One Gun was purchased for $85,000 by Champion Thoroughbreds at the 2010 MM sale.

“He’s not exactly doing things just as we’d like at the moment, but he can certainly gallop,’’ said O’Shea.

Cassidy said he hadn’t originally planned to lead, but the gelding gave a good kick to open up a winning margin in the straight.

“It was a big effort,’’ said Cassidy.

“John told me if I could get him to relax, he’d be very hard to beat and he relaxed well enough today.’’

Number One Gun was lining up for his third race start today and O'Shea reported that he would be turned out for a spell now.

Hoss Amor Buzzing!

GOLD COAST, Thursday 12 January, 2012 – Hoss Amor has created a definite buzz around the Gold Coast and her chances in Saturday's $2 million Magic Millions Classsic on the Gold Coast.

The John O'Shea-trained filly has drawn barrier 11 for the feature and O’Shea believes she is well capable of finishing in the firing line.

“She has done nothing to say that she shouldn’t be in the race on Saturday, she's jumping out of her skin and has not needed racing in the lead up to Saturday, the rest of them can beat themselves up.”

“She performed well on debut and although there may be a question mark on the form she won and showed superior ability.” The Randwick trainer commented.

Hoss Amor was purchased by O’Shea and Champion Thoroughbreds Managing Director Jason Abrahams with view to contesting Saturday’s mammoth first prize.

“The thing about this filly is her attitude which is imperative with two year olds,”

“She has a wonderful demeanor and she is a delight to do anything with, she has made tremendous improvement since the Wyong race and although drawn awkwardly if we can run past both Driefontein & Sizzling then I think she would of done enough to get the desired result.” O’Shea said bluntly.

Five percent is owned by Sky Racing's newshound, Andrew Bensley, who O’Shea says has been “walking the box” in the lead up to the Gold Coast feature.

“Hoss has his work commitments up here obviously and is always on the ball in that area, but we have sensed some nervous times for the big fella this week.” O’Shea jibbed.

Legsman & Pumper Ready To Rumble In The Cup

SYDNEY, Wednesday 11 January, 2012 – The ever tough Legsman can reverse the result in the Gosford Gold Cup (2100 m) tomorrow evening according to Randwick trainer John O’Shea.

O’Shea believes the honest gelding Legsman can turn the tables on his rivals when the bold front running galloper lines up in tomorrow’s $150,000 Listed event.

ABOVE: Tough as old boots, Legsman & Jimmy Cassidy leading from start to finish in the Winter Cup.

Legsman won the Listed Winter Cup over 2400 metres at Rosehill in June.

Leading the field into the straight before scrapping it out with Tullamore up the running.

Tullamore went on to claim the Group II Brisbane Cup and has since finished third in the Group I Caulfield Cup.

The son of Pins had three runs back this campaign before a foot abscess forced him out of the Christmas and Summer Cups.

Legsman returned to finish a game third behind in-form galloper Straight Albert in the Listed Tattersalls Club Cup (2095m) at Warwick Farm on January 2.

Jim “Pumper” Cassidy renewed his association in the Tattersalls Club Cup and kicked clear from the 700 m and it was only inside the last furlong he was reeled in.

"I thought he went really well,” O’Shea said.

"The track never suited him and the inside appeared to be a bit off on the day.”

"Hopefully he can get a fair track at Gosford which the surface will be a bit more forgiving than what he was on the other day.”

O’Shea said the bulldog fighting qualities that Legsman possesses would be at their peak for tomorrow’s assignment.

"He likes to get into a bit of a scrap, he was never able to do that the other day,”

“When he gets in that situation, Jim is the right horseman to have in the saddle as he has a great affinity in the heat of the moment and being able to take the race by the scruff of the neck.” O’Shea enthused.