| SYDNEY, Wednesday 10 March, 2010 – John O’Shea will saddle up the lightly raced Zabrasive in the feature race on the card on Saturday, the Group 1 Royal Randwick Guineas (1600 m).
O’Shea has always maintained a high opinion of the Champion Thorughbreds managed Zabeel gelding who is coming off an impressive first up win at Wyong.
“This horse has made enormous improvement heading into the Autumn, he is a genuine staying prospect who is pleasing us immensely and we will test the water with him in the top grade on Saturday,”
“For where he is at in his preparation this will be a nice progression through to the Rosehill Guineas and AJC Derby.” O’Shea said.
O’Shea hinted that he won’t just have Zabrasive in the Guineas purely making up numbers,
“Gate 15 is never ideal, we’ll leave Hugh with that problem and he can negotiate where he best see’s the horse in the run.”
“Look, if there is genuine tempo Zabrasive will attacking the line very hard late, he’s probably just looking for that mile and quarter, in saying that I look forward to saddling him up for the Guineas on Saturday.” O’Shea enthused.
The Randwick horseman will have a very strong hand all day, one being another of his boom juveniles Ambers Waltz.
“Ambers Waltz always displayed quality to us, this filly is going the right way, I was delighted in her effort the other day on a dynamite leaders track,”
“She’s tightened up nicely and worked superbly Tuesday morning here on the course proper, she’s here on her home track, Bowman in the saddle and the key is she has drawn a gate so they are all factors that will have her be in the firing line come Saturday afternoon.”
Team O’Shea will also have strong competitive chances in the 3YO Eskimo Prince Stakes (1200 m) in St Augustine and Kiss ‘N Chase and Jessicabeel who contests the Aspiration Quality for Fillies & Mares over 1600 m. |