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 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

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.”  

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.

“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,”

“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.

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.

O’Shea will saddle up to talented youngsters who he believes will both be suited to the big circumference that the Kembla Grange track has to offer.

“Kembla Grange is a beautiful track to race on it provides runners with opportunities and I definitely think young horses derive good benefit from racing on the Kembla surface.”

Runway Runaway will be the first of the Randwick horseman’s runners and the Starcraft mare has had two runs back this time in full of merit.

“She was obviously very impressive first up and then desperately unlucky second up probably was ridden a touch conservative,” he said.

“She is a big striding mare and Jimmy is well aware of her need for galloping room which a rider of his caliber will accommodate for her.”

“I cannot fault her and she is in great order to really be competitive tomorrow.” O’Shea added.

Cantonese will run in prominent Breeder/Owner Gerry Harvey’s colours and he is a horse that delivered touches of ability in his six career starts to date.

“We hoped to have ironed that out as he does have nice ability on his day, he is obviously first up and will improve off the run,”

“The beauty of running at Kembla is that it will really suit Cantonese as it will give him time to balance up and really attack the line to have the last crack at them.”

SYDNEY, Wednesday 4 January, 2012 - John O’Shea made his intension’s after Sea Siren after the filly easily disposed of her rivals in the Vinery Stud Handicap (1250m) at Canterbury Park this afternoon.

The ever consistent Duke Of Cornwall had the result never in doubt from the beginning of the race when rising apprentice Sam Clipperton made his intention clear electing to roll forward and lead from a wide gate.

O’Shea was the first to congratulate the teenage apprentice after his front-running ride to win on Duke Of Cornwall in the TAB.com.au Handicap over 1200 m.

ABOVE: Duke Of Cornwall cruises to victory this afternoon in the hands of Apprentice Sam Clipperton.

"Well done to Sammy, it was a good ride," O'Shea said.

"He showed initiative to take the lead early and judged the speed perfectly in front."

So So Sure jumped in front early but Clipperton allowed Duke Of Cornwall to slide forward and take up the running after 300m.

Clipperton, 17, was then able to slow the tempo, turning the race into a sprint home.

Duke Of Cornwall was able to run his last 600m in sub 34 seconds which had him in the box seat to claim the prize as his rivals would not be able to run him down.

"I tried to nurse him for as long as I could," Clipperton said.

"I didn't want to press the button too early but when I did he kicked strongly."

Duke Of Cornwall pinched a break on his rivals at the top of the straight and held at off Key West to score by 1 1/4 lengths with Maules Creek in third.

Duke Of Cornwall, a conspicuous grey, improved his record to three wins (and five placings) from just nine starts with O'Shea hopeful of finding another suitable race for the gelding in coming weeks.

O’Shea plans to trial Foxwedge before the end of January and he has the two major Group I Flemington sprints in February and March on the son of Fastnet Rock’s agenda.

"He’s made really good progress since the Coolmore.”

"He’ll run in the Lightning and the Newmarket.”

"They look nice races for him and he’s proven down the straight.”

Foxwedge showed a liking for straight track racing when pushing champion colt Sepoy to the limit in the Coolmore Stud Stakes at Flemington on Derby day in October.

An invite for Foxwedge to compete at the Royal Ascot carnival in June could mean the classy colt bypasses his home carnival in Sydney in the autumn.

Both the King’s Stand Stakes (1000m) and the Golden Jubilee Stakes (1200m) are run down the Ascot straight course during the Royal meeting which runs from June 19 to 23.

"If he is to perform well at Flemington that will nearly do it before we go overseas,” O’Shea said.

"Depending upon what happens and his performance, he has been invited to go to England.”

The talented son of Galileo has progressed well during his current campaign which started with victory in a Benchmark 70 event before he finished second at his most recent run behind Monton in the Listed Festival Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill on December 3.

"Take out the one run this preparation where Christian [Reith] rode him up too close the rest of his runs have been really good,” O’Shea said.

"With age and maturity we’ve been able to get a bit of work into him this time and he’s handled it well.”

Lightinthenite's profile fits that of a Villiers Stakes winner.

The last nine winners of the race either won their previous start or finished within a length from the winner and since 1993 only one winner of the feature summer mile has carried more than 54.5kg.

Lightinthenite finished a half-length behind Monton in the Festival Stakes and on Saturday he’ll carry 52kg.

"I’m really happy with him. He did his main piece of work in good style this morning and he’s fit and well,” O’Shea said.

"He’s well treated at the weights. He’s a progressive horse that doesn’t have a lot of convictions that some of his competitors have.

"There looks genuine speed and the sting out of the track won’t hurt either.”

O'Shea's stable runners have been a constant in the winners stall over the last month and the trainer's voice was brim full of confidence when quizzed on feature race favourite Lightinthenite.

Lightinthenite was installed early 4 to 1 favourite elect for the Festival Stakes which O’Shea mentioned had some validity.

"Having a look at the form I don't think he comes in too badly at the weights,"

"His last run was very pleasing but I thought his third-up run was very good, we just had to absolve a few sins there really, that is probably the best way to put it.”

"He wasn't ridden the best but still performed strongly."

O'Shea noted the significant drop in the weights for rival Circle Of Power and felt he would challenge as a serious danger.

"If you're doing your form it is the horse that gets in nicely," he said. "We meet it worse at the weights but obviously our horse is on the way up.”

"The difference between us and Rod Craig's horse is that he has had 28 starts for four wins and our horse has had six starts for four wins. You could say that he has had less convictions, I think that is why there is a difference in the market."

O'Shea always has an impeccable two year old record and that has been the case at the start of the current season, producing two impressive juveniles in Faustus and Don't Blink and he feels Brave Soul has the potential to uphold the stable's recent run of form tomorrow.

Brave Soul is a younger half sister to O’Shea former two year old flyer Solar Charged, but he quickly says that is where the similarities stop.

"She has got the ability but certainly not the same brilliance as her sister," he said.

"She is much more relaxed, Solar Charged wanted to do everything very quickly. This filly will be take a sit and hit the line strongly."

Further to O’Shea’s day is two top chances in Miss Marx and Honest Lies.

“I am most happy with both of them, Honest Lies will be ridden in a similar manner to his excellent first up effort and hopefully track conditions allows him to fight the finish out in a very tough race,”

“Miss Marx is bombproof and a filly with talent and an undeniable record, we are experimenting with the blinkers tomorrow for further down the track in her career and along with the services of Nash she will be competitive.”

SYDNEY, Saturday 26 November, 2011 – A miracle in itself that racing got underway this afternoon at Canterbury Park with the disgraceful inclement weather throughout the week right up until mid morning today.

SYDNEY, Friday 25 November, 2011 – Form Randwick conditioner John O'Shea hopes too continue his purple patch of winning form when heading to Canterbury Park tomorrow.

In just his seventh career start, Hendricus took his career earnings to date to more than $267,000. Hendricus took home a $50,000 bonus when winning the Inglis Bonus 2YO Handicap during the Wagga Gold Cup carnival in May then added a further $100,000 with his dominant victory this afternoon..

"I’ll go anywhere for a quid, I’ve got four kids to feed,” O’Shea said.

Super hoop Nash Rawiller from the gate was forced to take hold of Hendricus and settle towards the tail of the field. The big field enabled the race to unfold with genuine tempo.

At the point of the turn Rawiller still had the 14 runners ahead of him but as he was at his sublime best when easing Hendricus to the outside and never stalling his momentum which enabled the son of Mossman too power past all rivals to salute in stylish fashion.

"The horse would have been something beat if he didn’t get up, I tell you that,” Rawiller said. "The horses I was following into it weren’t taking me into it quick enough.”

"I just had to bide my time turning for home and I really wanted to get him to the outside to get stuck into him and when I did he did the rest. It was a good effort.”

“Its well done too the ownership group and a tremendous credit to John and his staff for the manner in which this colt was presented at the races today.”

O’Shea also had pre post favourite in the race Colorado Claire who the Randwick conditioner was also most pleased with.

“A filly that is one to follow her effort was extremely good today to do what she did and still be in the finish is a nice sign of what she has to offer in life.”

O’Shea said both horses will have a little let up now and have some targets in the autumn.

"Both of them are eligible for the Inglis Guineas at Scone and it’s just a matter of how we get there.”

The opening two races went the way of O’Shea and also later in the afternoon combining in all three victories with Grand Slam winning hoop Jim ‘Pumper’ Cassidy.

Faustus is beautifully bred being a colt by champion sire More Than Ready out of Danehill mare Living Hell.

Faustus was quickly into stride and moved forward to take hold his position on the rail eventually traveling in the box seat.

Entering the straight race favourite Kuchinskaya and Faustus kicked strongly to settle down and fight the race out with Faustus doing the better over the concluding stages to do the better in a performance that had plenty of merit.

"He has a beautiful action and now he has 40 grand in the bank,” O’Shea said.

"That will be it for this time in and we will bring him back for a race like the Skyline in autumn. I think he is going to make a really nice two-year-old in time.”

Cassidy made his return at Canterbury on Friday night after a rib injury saw him stood down last week after riding the first winner at Randwick. The champion rider believes Faustus has plenty of upside.

"Very nice horse,” Cassidy said.

"John said he was a bit new, which he was but he got it done,”

"There is unbelievable improvement left in him.”Cassidy added.

Watching the second race was like a replay of the first race when O’Shea & Cassidy scored a race-to-race double with super talented filly Colorado Claire in the Bacardi Handicap (1400m).

Like the duos first winner Faustus, Colorado Claire settled handy this time outside the lead before powering away in the straight to record an ultra impressive win.

Colorado Claire continued her undefeated career, she has progressed from Goulburn via Kembla before her city success this afternoon.

"She's got a lovely action, a nice gait and she's doing a really good job,” O’Shea said.

"She's really looking for the mile. The other thing about her is today we got the opportunity to take a little sit on her.”

"She's been stargazing a little bit early in her races but having something to follow up the running did her the world of good.”

Sindarin had no excuses, leading before being shrugged off by the winner before the 200 m mark in the straight.

O’Shea said he’d monitor Colorado Claire over the next few days with a view to backing her up at Warwick Farm next Saturday for a race that carries a $100,000 bonus.

"There's an opportunity to run her next week in a mile race, an Inglis bonus race, so we'll just see how she pulls up and if she does well we'll probably give her the opportunity to run there,” he said.

O’Shea & Cassidy finally linked to claim the Jacob’s Creek Sparkling Moscato Handicap (1500m) with Lightinthenite.

The son of Galileo had no luck at his previous start when third behind Riva De Lago but the roles were reversed.

Cassidy had Lightinthenite up within striking distance before pouncing on the lead at the top of the straight.

Lightinthenite moved up and took over but it wasn’t over with Circle Of Power and Riva De Lago staking their claims late but Lightinthenite was super tough and continued his strong run right through the line.

O’Shea has featured with two year olds' out of the very top draw over the past few seasons and they have all been in the reckoning at the right time of year, the Sydney Autumn.

“We never have overly a lot of two year old runners,”

“What we do is identify each year what are the types we have selected that will cope with the rigours of two year old racing without hopefully sacrificing the ability of the horse too train on at three,”

“I think we have done it to a degree of success without winning the Golden Slipper, each year we are learning.” O’Shea said.

O’Shea’s comments prove relative when he was quizzed on first starter Faustus tomorrow at Rosehill Gardens.

Reasoning for the paddock;

“We will get a better idea tomorrow, but he’s a colt we will give an opportunity to shape up in the Autumn.”

“He will roll forward from a good gate and should get an opportunity to really attack the line and hopefully greenness does not cost him too much.”

The Randwick horseman has a large team in tomorrow at the Gardens, all charges with claims in their respective races.

“Yea, we have been a bit quiet on the runners front but tomorrow we have a good representation and all are fit healthy and we have confidence in them that they will run well.” O’Shea explained.

Colorado Claire is undefeated in two starts but gets her first crack at Metropolitan grade tomorrow.

“A lovely filly making all the right progressive steps, although her opposition will be tougher tomorrow this is a stepping stone for when she is up to a mile which when she will be at her best.”

O'Shea warned Legsman will run tomorrow and he has bigger assignments in store starting in a fortnight in the Frank Underwood Cup.

Hendricus faces the older horses tomorrow and he will likely back up next week in the Inglis Bonus 3YO 1600 m at Warwick Farm and O’Shea also mentioned Lightinthenite was well back on track.

“Lightinthenite is right at the top of his game tomorrow and meets the winner of his last start better at the weights,”

“What will hinge on Lightinthenite’s performance is the track condition and the way it is playing.”

“He is a horse that needs to let be comfortable with cover over the early stages and then let attack the line,”

“If ground can be made up then I think he will have his claim at fighting out the finish.” O’Shea added.

SYDNEY, Wednesday 9 November, 2011 – Champion Thoroughbreds will be again have one of it’s regular Open Days this Sunday 13th NOvember.

The Day is an ‘Open Invite’  for all to gather at John O’Shea’s Randwick stables, commencing at 10 am.

The day is a very good opportunity to see how horse’s make progress inside the stable and the chance chat to John or Jason Abrahams (Champion Thoroughbreds Director).

John O’Shea Racing Stables

28 High Street

Randwick

For any inquiries please feel free to contact Belinda at Champion Thoroughbreds (02) 9436 0795.

Undefeated filly Bound To Blush will put her unblemished two start record on the line when she contests the SKY SPORTS RADIO FAREWELLS ROYAL RANDWICK HANDICAP over 1200 m.

“I’m really happy with her overall condition and she has had a wonderful lead up into tomorrow’s race,”

“She is third up and seems to have taken a good deal of improvement since she was last at the races.” O’Shea said.

Bound To Blush had a debut win at Goulburn for the Gai Waterhouse stable before being transferred into O’Shea’s care.

O’Shea gave the 3YO Strategic filly a soft trial win before recording a convincing Class 1 victory against older horses at Hawkesbury (1200 m), Thursday 20^th October.

“She is a lovely kind, genuine filly who has been an absolute delight since arriving.”

“She had a strong piece of work here on the Randwick course proper on Tuesday morning which seems to have brought her right up to the mark.”

“It’s a nice race for her and an opportunity for her to try her ability in Saturday Metropolitan grade.”

Race tactics as always O’Shea says he keeps simple, especially with Grand Slam winning hoop Jim “pumper” Cassidy engaged in the saddle.

“Jim has good handle on her, and obviously so far she has raced up on the speed and the race on paper tomorrow appears as though that will be the case again,”

“I would imagine we may end up outside the lead but we won’t over complicate things as we have the best front running rider onboard.” O’Shea added.  

Princess Layla is a lightly raced Fastnet Rock filly who contests the Lexus Hybrid Plate over 1400 m, she created an impression first up when bolting in at Gosford by six lengths before running a very narrow second on the Kensington track in Sydney.

“She has settled into Melbourne problem free,” O’Shea said.

“This is the race we brought her down for and with the good gate and services of Darren (Beadman), that bodes well for her in what looks a tough little race.”

“We are never under any illusions to the task at hand, especially at this time of year.”

“Princess Layla has had a great preparation and we really look forward to trying to grab some black type with her tomorrow.”

At Headquarters (Royal Randwick) in Sydney O’Shea says his chances are strong in what is always a very competitive day.

“Rule Number One is racing with great consistency and is right at the top of his game ready to run a strong 1600 m,”

“Maybe he is a slight query at the 1600 m but he is in great form and we are giving him the opportunity, as it may open further options for him in the future.”

“He is in grand order.” O’Shea added.

North Pole Dancer will have her second race day outing at Randwick tomorrow and O’Shea is equally as happy with the 4YO Anabaa mare.

“She was unlucky not to have won on debut, however going forward she has made dramatic improvement and she will really appreciate the big open spaces of Randwick,”

“I expect her to get a kind run in transit and really attack the line late.” He said.

King Brown will be O’Shea’s other runner, who he warns needs to deliver tomorrow.

“We have delved into the bag of tricks and need King Brown to give us something tomorrow, he condition cannot be faulted and his work continues to be top class, so there will be no excuses.”

Foxwedge has had the blinkers applied and he has come throughout his straight course jumpout in grand order according to the Randwick conditioner.

ABOVE: D Day, Foxwedge & Nash Rawiller in full flight, they contest the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes.

"This is the race we have been building towards the whole preparation,"

"He travelled to Melbourne last week and has settled in as good as we could hope."

The son of Fastnet Rock has not worn blinkers in any of his starts this season.

"I've always had the opinion that he would be better down the straight,” O'Shea said.

“He worked up the straight in the hood yesterday morning it was nice hitout, especially when he was asked to quicken up to the line.”

Foxwedge has drawn six in the ten horse field that will contest the Flemington straight course.  

Sepoy has dominated Melbourne opposition in his four wins this season but meets a deeper field

Melbourne wins by Sepoy, Helmet, Manawanui, Karuta Queen and Satin Shoes have justified the Sydney three-year-old age group formline this spring, which bodes well in Foxwedge’e favour come Saturday.

Foxwedge won the San Domenico Stakes (1100m) first-up this preparation followed by a third to Manawanui in the $1 million Golden Rose (1400m) at Rosehill before losing that placing to Helmet on protest.

Foxwedge then came back to 1200m at Randwick on October 1 to win the Roman Consul Stakes and set himself up for a crack at the Coolmore Stakes.

Regular rider Nash Rawiller will be in the saddle on Saturday and confirmed how well Foxwedge appears to going.

“He felt great Saturday morning and then again yesterday morning,”

“I can’t wait for Saturday, as I think he will excel racing up the straight.” Sydney’s champion hoop commented.  

The daughter of super stallion Fastnet Rock romped home by three lengths on debut at Gosford on 6^th October and takes a step up to Metropolitan grade on Wednesday.

“She has trained on in terrific order and we are really happy with her overall condition.” Trainer John O’Shea quipped.

Princess Layla jumped straight on the bunny at Gosford in what appeared to be a mere track gallop exercise for her.

“She is still very ill seasoned but that’s the same with all 3YO’s at this time of year,”

“It is also a race that looks to have some depth, so we are under no illusions as the step up it is going to be for our filly,”

“But she has done everything asked of her and will be better for the run come Wednesday.” O’Shea added.

Princess Layla will be ridden by form grand slam winning hoop Jim Cassidy.

“I’m happy with the manner in which he has done since his first up run.”

“It won’t be easy for him making the transition to Saturday grade but he looks to have made good improvement and ready for tomorrow’s task.” O’Shea remarked.

O’Shea is resisting any such temptation in taking the exciting son of Galileo south for the Melbourne riches and insisted he would stay here in Sydney.

“This horse is still a restricted class galloper and we will just be keeping him to his grade and tomorrow’s result will depend on track condition and the way it is playing throughout the day,” he said.

“He looks to have drawn ideally where Christian should secure a smother in the run and then be able to pull to the centre of the track once the whips are cracking.”

“Legsman is first up tomorrow in a field that is significantly stronger than he has met first up before,”

“He has drawn soft and races in a forward position to lay a good foundation going forward once we get over trip as he be geared toward the Christmas and Summer Cups’”

“I couldn’t be happier with the way he has come back and how he is going, all connections are very excited about his preparation ahead.” O’Shea added.

Premier jockey Nash Rawiller was back aboard Foxwedge, with Rawiller asserting dominance from the get go when the colt took up the running to bounce straight to the lead.

Foxwedge kicked away inside the 300 metres before fighting off a spirited late challenge from the Victorian Masthead.

"He wants to be a racehorse he’s a very genuine fella and it’s a pleasure to have him,” O’Shea said.

"When he got to the front you could see him stargazing.

"In fairness to him he’s probably a better chaser.”

Rawiller described the win as "tradesmanlike” and said Foxwedge’s wandering mind over the final stages had him concerned.

"He’s all class this colt, I knew when they came at me he’d find.”

“He thought the job was done over the final stages before we had crossed the line,”

“Job done and he was too good.”

O’Shea said Foxwedge shouldn’t have the same problem when in Melbourne in the Group I Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) at Flemington on October 29.

"I don’t think he’ll have that problem when we get him to Flemington, there will be something to chase for sure,” O’Shea commented.

Golden Rose winner Manawanui and also Helmet have shown the race's form reference, with Manawanui winning the Stan Fox Stakes last weekend with Helmet bolting in at Caulfield, in the Caulfield Guineas Prelude in Melbourne.

Foxwedge has been given three weeks since the Golden Rose and drops back to 1200 m at Randwick which O'Shea says is favourable.

Regular rider, 'super hoop' Nash Rawiller, who was suspended for Foxwedge's past two starts, reunites with the son of Fastnet Rock in the Roman Consul where he will jump from barrier 2.

"The horses that have come out of the Golden Rose have raced well, there's been a couple of winners out of the race already," O'Shea said.

"The three weeks between runs has done him the world of good, he's coming to a peak and is hard fit at the top of his game.”

"Nash has a lot of time for this colt and gets on with him particularly well having a good record on him."

O'Shea said things didn't pan out as expected in the Golden Rose when Glyn Schofield took the initiative shortly after the start and went forward on eventual winner Manawanui.

"His performance in the Golden Rose was creditable but it probably didn't quite pan out as we expected," O'Shea said.

"We probably could have been a bit more aggressive on him."

“He strips in great order and puts himself there in the run and Nash won’t miss him so we expect him to be right there when the whips are cracking.” O’Shea added.

“This is the type of horse that keeps us going and we do it for,” Super hoop Nash Rawiller made comment post race.

“John has been patient and the horse has been expertly handled, I’m sure he will find a nice race for him down the track.”

“They are both expensive Easter yearlings with lovely pedigrees,” he said.

“Big Time is a horse that we have always had an opinion of.”

“He is a big, tough galloper and while the transition from a restricted race to stakes company we are not taking lightly, I know he won’t have any trouble running out a strong 1900 m.” O’Shea commented.

“Quackquack is also crying out for the trip. I know she got beat in a maiden at Kembla last start but it was against older horses and she is much better suited back to her own age and up in distance.”

“Deer Valley was purchased by Segenhoe Group, Kevin Maloney and his racing manager Billy Mitchell, and we were entrusted with the care of her going forward,”

“She is an absolute delight to train and we are very happy with the way in which she is going,”

“She trialled exceptionally well and she is right up to the mark fitness wise heading into Saturday.” A confident O’Shea said.     

Perfect Hussey resumed after a long lay off with talented win first up at Wyong and trainer John O’Shea says she can repeat such a performance today.

“Perfect Hussey has taken enormous improvement from her win first up the other day and there is no doubting she goes into today’s event going along better than she was first up.” O’Shea said.

“We learnt a couple of things about her the other day and having drawn a horrendous barrier we will be forced to ride her in the same manner,”

O’Shea was very cautious about the daughter of Hussonet’s winning chances.

“The obstacle for Perfect Hussey today will be the pattern of the day and the way the track palys.”

“Traditionally on this day every year it is advantageous to be leading or right on the speed, from the gate we will be forced to go back.” O’Shea warned.

Allofacertainty will be the Randwick trainers other runner for the carnival and he is primed for the day.

“He is only a moderate conveyance but he couldn’t be going any better this horse, and he will roll forward and hopefully dictate terms and appreciate the tempo of the 1500 m,”

The mare defeated multiple Group I winner Melito in the Group 3 Silver Shadow Stakes before finishing fifth to More Joyous in the Group I Flight Stakes.

The daughter of Lonhro was recently purchased by new owners and moved to Randwick.

"She was purchased by the Segenhoe Group and they were kind enough to give me the mare to train, which I am very thankful for.” O'Shea said.

The Randwick horseman said he was unsure where the stakes-winning galloper would kick off her campaign but expected to learn more about her next week.

"She'll trial on Tuesday, she's a very nice mare who looks well and did her first piece of fast work this morning and looked good in doing so.”

“I have been lucky enough to gallop him before each of his races this preparation and he has nothing but continually improved over the course of his preparation, he’s a colt with serious ability.” McDonald said

McDonald was happy with the feel the son of Fastnet Rock gave him and believes he can shake the Group 1 major on Saturday.

“He really found the line sharply this morning,”

“John has him trained to the minute and I’m confident we can have our share of luck on Saturday in the Rose and be right in the mix.” McDonald commented.

“I just can’t wait for Saturday now, I am very grateful to John & Dr Bateman for the opportunity.”

O’Shea was equally as pleased with the work and said there would be no excuses come Saturday.

“Our colt is fit and right at the top of his game and he has had a lovely preparation that has been laid,”

“His work was right out of the top draw this morning, which it will need be,”

“He is third up into a Group 1, I like that profile.” O’Shea added.

John O’Shea will saddle one other runner on Saturday Premier Meeting with speedy Solar Charged contesting the Sheraco Stakes.

“Solar Charged is very well and was excellent in her work on Saturday morning,”

“She performs well fresh and is up to the mark for Saturday so we expect a forward showing.”

McDonald has also been engaged for the daughter of Charge Forward on Saturday.

LEFT: Trainer John O'Shea

"So Anise to me is the obvious horse to beat in the Furious on Saturday."

Elite Falls was one of the standout two-year-old fillies last season, winning the Reisling Stakes and finishing third in the Golden Slipper.

The daughter of More Than Ready returned in the Silver Shadow Stakes and finished fifth on a heavy track at Warwick Farm.

"I’m happy with the manner in which she has done and she will appreciate having had that run and getting what will hopefully be a firmer surface on Saturday,"

"She gets through the wet ground but not when she's not fit." O’Shea lamented.

O'Shea said Elite Falls did enough first-up and expects a good performance on the weekend in the second race of the four-leg Princess Series for #YO Fillies.

"She's going to improve a lot and probably one more run will top her off for where she needs to be,"

"She'll hopefully get back in the game on Saturday and that will lay a good foundation for the Tea Rose at her next start." O'Shea added.

Champion hoop Jim “Pumper” Cassidy missed the ride on Elite Falls first up through suspension but has been engaged to reunite with her on Saturday.

SYDNEY, Friday 26 August, 2011 - John O'Shea has played down any such suggestions that his exciting colt Foxwedge will have a fitness advantage over rivals Smart Missile and Helmet in tomorrow’s Group 3 Run To The Rose Stakes (1200 m) at Rosehill Gardens.

She was a strong third to Sepoy in the Golden Slipper and O'Shea said it was heartening to see both Sepoy and Satin Shoes resume with wins at Caulfield last weekend.

"That filly of Clarry's that won in Melbourne on Saturday we beat in the Reisling so it was good to see that form is okay," O'Shea said.

"It looks a nice race for my filly on Saturday and she's quite well treated at the weights."

Elite Falls will carry 56.5kg under the set weights plus penalties conditions of Saturday's Silver Shadow Stakes (1200m) with star New Zealand apprentice James McDonald in the saddle.

The Group Three Silver Shadow opens the four-race Princess Series which also comprises the Furious (1400m), Tea Rose (1500m) and Flight Stakes (1600m).

While Elite Falls is also entered for the $1 million Golden Rose (1400m) on September 10, O'Shea says he is leaning to keeping her against her own sex.

"At this stage I'd say she'll stick to the fillies' races but I've kept her in the Golden Rose to keep the option open if we wanted to run her there," he said.

O'Shea won last Saturday's San Domenico Stakes with the Golden Rose-bound Foxwedge and is hoping Elite Falls can snare him another feature at Warwick Farm.

The filly was runner-up in a recent barrier trial and has pleased O'Shea with her progress at home.

While Elite Falls has won in the wet, O'Shea is hoping the conditions aren't too testing on Saturday.

With a long spring ahead, he is mindful of the effects of a tough first-up run on a heavy track.

"The wet track helps her in terms of her capacity to win the race and it eliminates a few others, hopefully it doesn't eliminate her," O'Shea said.

Trainer John O'Shea needed to find a new rider for the talented colt after regular hoop Nash Rawiller copped a 12-meeting careless riding suspension at Randwick yesterday, ruling him out of the Golden Rose on September 10.

"James McDonald will ride Foxwedge in the Golden Rose," O'Shea confirmed.

McDonald has been lured to ride in Sydney by O'Shea a number of times in recent weeks including at Saturday's Warwick Farm meeting where the Champion New Zealand rider will ride the O'Shea-trained Golden Slipper placegetter Elite Falls in the Silver Shadow Stakes.

McDonald broke the New Zealand record for most winners in a season in 2010/11.

He has commitments in New Zealand on Saturday week so won't be in the saddle for Foxwedge's final Golden Rose lead-up in the Group Three Run To The Rose (1200m), Corey Brown will reunite with Foxwedge in the Run To The Rose having won on the glamour colt on debut.

When McDonald was in Sydney last Tuesday week, the apprentice put Foxwedge through his paces in an impressive workout at Randwick ahead of the colt's first-up win in the Group Three San Domenico Stakes (1100m).

SYDNEY, Monday 15 August, 2011 - This coming Sunday, 21st August, John O'Shea will throw open the stable doors to owners, friends and any interested parties to parade Champion Thoroughbreds horses that are currently in work.

Rounding the home turn, super hoop Nash Rawiller started to take closer order aboard Foxwedge and when Defiant Dame started to struggle at the top of the straight, he seized the initiative and drove the colt out of a pocket before surging to the front exercising a lethal turn of foot.

“He’s still a bit green, he wobbled a few times and got a bit unbalanced but it’s a nice start to his preparation,” O’Shea said.

"He was probably entitled to knock up a bit late.”

Rawiller said Foxwedge has a tendency to "do all that is needed” and the win was full of merit.

"He’s a very good horse,” Rawiller said.

"He got to them with ease and he’s the sort of horse that if you let him think game is over he switches straight off so I kept his mind on the job.”

"He would have found more if something came at him.”

The son of Fastnet Rock is now heading towards a clash with the likes of Smart Missile and Helmet in the Group I Golden Rose (1400m) on September 10 after his next run in the Group III Run To The Rose (1200m) in a fortnight.

"It’s a good start to where we want to end up and hopefully he can continue to go on with it,” he said.

The win capped a great day for Foxwedge’s owner Dr Edmund Bateman, who captured a two state double after Satin Shoes also made a winning return in the Listed Quezette Stakes at Caulfield.

"Congratulations to Dr Bateman & Mrs Bateman, they have had a big day,” O’Shea said. "He’s put a lot of money into the game and he deserves a horse of this quality.”

"He needed to have a good piece of work, because he's a pretty gross colt and he had that this morning," O'Shea said.

“After initially accepting the Nomination, Racing NSW Handicappers in their wisdom then took Romanus out of the 2MW Mile race without any notification,” A frustrated O’Shea explained.

“Programming does not allow him to race over a suitable distance for another month, so we are forced to run him in the 2000 m race on Saturday before we turn him out for a break.” O’Shea continued.

“What is in our control, is a fit, happy and healthy horse who continues to thrive so we will give him the opportunity to run over a bit of ground,”

Romanus has not run beyond 1500 m since being in O’Shea’s care and in his nine starts for the Randwick horseman has only missed a place on one occasion.

“He is out of an Oaks winner, which will surely stand him in good stead, if he runs the 2000 m it just opens a few options for him next preparation.”

Honest mare Kiss’N Chase drops back to her suited 1400 m after her last start attempt at 1600 m in the final event on the card.

“It’s a nice test for Kiss ’N Chase tomorrow, she is going every bit as good as she was when she won two starts back.”

“She loves the Randwick Course Proper and the seven furlongs,”

Asked to split the two O’Shea played a diplomatic role.

“Look, both horses are fit and well and which one of the two get the luck in running will be the one that is competitive in the finish, hopefully they both get the luck.”

The Randwick horseman has engaged Canberra apprentice Shaun Guymer for talented filly Miss Marx in the CONGRATULATIONS NASH RAWILLER HANDICAP over 1400 m.

With a shortage of 3kg claiming apprentices in Sydney, Guymer has the potential to be a worthy asset and has been given his opportunity aboard Miss Marx after a winner for Ron Quinton at Kembla Grange a fortnight ago.

"I really wanted a 3kg kid to ride Miss Marx because I knew she was going to get a fair bit of weight," O'Shea said.

"I spoke with Ron Quinton to see if he could recommend someone and he said that Shaun had done a great job to win on one of his recently."

"It is a huge thrill to know that the big trainers in Sydney take notice of the provincial's and that they are willing to give me a go."

Guymer feels Miss Marx is the best horse in the race and is hopeful she will handle the expected race conditions.”

"She looks a very nice ride and seems to make her own luck so I will wait until I speak with Mr O’Shea and what he is expecting of me and the filly.” Guymer said.

O’Shea will also saddle up lightly raced promising gallopers Cantonese and Duke Of Cornwall at the Gardens tomorrow, in the first and last races respectively.

SYDNEY, Friday 22 July, 2011 - John O'Shea is reserved when discussing the wet-track prospects of promising galloper Duke Of Cornwall, who will step out at Warwick Farm tomorrow.

O’Shea has had his best season in the number of winners he has led in, in the city, and is set to finish in the top five on the Sydney Trainers Premiership sitting on 41 wins with three meetings remaining.

Figures released by The Sportsman this week reveals how O’Shea has also been the punter’s pal with a profit loss margin the highest of any Sydney trainer with figures in the black of $28.08.

LEFT: John & Isabelle O'Shea 

He mentioned that the calibre of stock was crucial especially as he is inferior in numbers to the bigger stables.

“I still have the same number of horses I have always had, I just think the cattle have improved.” O’Shea added.

LEFT: Success; John, Jason & Dagmar Abrahams

“I continually look forward to maximizing every horses potential that’s under our care and giving our new & loyal cliental fruitful success.”

SYDNEY, Tuesday 20 July, 2011 – The John O’Shea trained Foxwedge was back in good order this morning at Randwick when having his first barrier trial ahead of Spring targets.

McDonald did not produce the mare until late but with utter poise and patience well beyond his years which has become his trademark, and sent her to the line full of running for a length clear win flying down the outside of the track.

Well tried in early markets, Duke Of Cornwall displayed a galloping exhibition when from the wide gate jumped straight across and sat outside the lead.

The Encosta De Lago gelding gave boom apprentice Jason Collett an arm chair ride  travelling full of running throughout.

Once balanced up, Collett pushed the button at the top of the rise and Duke Of Cornwall lengthened stride beautifully too shoot two lengths clear at the 200 m to put the result beyond doubt and eased down a length clear on the line.

“He gave me a great feel throughout and after jumping so well and no early speed we were able to take up a handy spot,” Collett commented.

“He will race in better races than this today, and I’m grateful of the opportunity given to me to ride him by Mr O’Shea.”

Duke Of Cornwall was spelled after winning on Melbourne Cup day last November and has subsequently been gelded and trainer John O’Shea mentioned the best is still ahead of him.

“We won’t get too far ahead of ourselves and as long as he pulls up okay we will just keep him in his grade.”

“Eventually I’m sure we will get into a nice race with him.” O’Shea said.

SYDNEY, Thursday 30 June, 2011 - Record-breaking New Zealand apprentice James McDonald will travel across the Tasman to ride for Randwick conditioner John O’Shea on Saturday week.

Cantonese having only his third race start tomorrow at Canterbury Park in the GRAND PAVILION HANDICAP over 1550 m and O’Shea warned although the blue blooded colt is in grand order it was a very Heavy track last start when Cantonese proved impressive in trying conditions.

“I’m very happy in the manner in which Cantonese has trained on.”

“I expect him to be in the firing line tomorrow and although he ran well first up on a drier surface at Kembla this is a significant rise in grade and on a drier surface than last start when he seemed to power through the conditions.” O’Shea said.

The son of Redoute’s Choice out of former good racemare Kylikwong (Red Ransom) has drawn barrier three tomorrow in which O’Shea envisaged it would give Cantonese the opportunity to be on pace.

“Probably drawn three tomorrow we will look to be just behind the lead but in saying that it is important Christian gives him plenty of galloping room,”

“As I said I can’t fault the colt and he will be sure to run well.” O’Shea added.

O’Shea will saddle two other runners up for the day in the form of lightly raced filly Vantage Point who has strung her last two wins together but has the horrid outside barrier.

“We will make a decision on Vantage Point on race morning once the final track condition is given out as should we get some overnight rain we may be inclined to leave her at home.”

“She looks to have made nice improvement and is still working it all out so there is plenty of upside with her.” Commented O’Shea.

Station Master will be on debut and had been given three sound barrier trials in which O’Shea says have laid a good foundation for the son of Charge Forward.

“Station Master has really come on since his latest trial in which he he looked to work along nicely,”

“He will make his own luck tomorrow and we will try and give him an opportunity to be able to win the race as he is forward enough to show something.”   

BRISBANE, Saturday 4 June, 2011 - Sydney trainer John O’Shea has had a frustrating time recently with Steps In Time but combined with jockey Corey Brown and they ended the day on a high at Eagle Farm this afternoon.

SYDNEY, Saturday 4 June, 2011 - The John O'Shea-trained Legsman put up a charismatic performance to win the Listed Winter Cup (2400m) at Rosehill Gardens this afternoon.

The Randwick horseman has been nothing but impressed since Crystal Whip’s strong trial performance back on the 6^th May.

“She obviously trialled in good order and the clock was evidence of this also on the day,”

“I have been extremely happy with the manner in which she has done post trial and today race is an ideal starting point for where she is at.” O’Shea said.

The Lonhro filly is coming off three solid placed starts last preparation the most recent being a courageous third to subsequent Stakes winner Sea Lord.

“She has drawn softly on the inside and as long as she breaks away cleanly she has good speed and will race handy and with even luck in running she will be there when the whips are cracking.” O’Shea added.

O’Shea will also have the consistent sprinter Not A Snip A Doubt in the final event GUINEAS RESTAURANT Handicap over 1100 m.

“He has been a great little horse for the stable and really has not had any luck in his last couple of starts,”

“He will get his toe into the ground today with the inclement weather which is a bonus.”

ABOVE: Not A Snip A Doubt is placed to his advantage today at Canterbury Park.

“It looks a nice race for him and he gets in well with the claim, he is at the top of his game and will be ridden very conservatively and given one crack at them.” O’Shea commented.

The Anabaa filly travelled full of running at the point of the turn and let down with a sharp turn of foot to hold off all challengers and win with a strong performance.

“She’s a filly of some quality and her record suggests that,”

“Horses that bput themselve in the race like she does are always going to create more luck for themselves and this filly definitely does that.” O’Shea said.

“We will she how she pulls up and keep her to her grade for the moment.”

Miss Marx has now won three of her four starts.

SYDNEY, Thursday 19 May, 2011 – Top Randwick conditioner John O'Shea will saddle up a strong three strike attack for Rosehill Gardens’s return to Metropolitan racing on Saturday.

The young team of talented gallopers for O'Shea kicks off the afternoon with the promising Hendricus, who is scheduled to compete in the Masterton Homes Handicap over 1400 m, with the in-form Christian Reith aboard.

Hendricus was runner-up to Invest at Canterbury when making his debut before an impressive winner of an Inglis bonus race during the Wagga Gold Cup carnival.

"The form out of his first-up run at Canterbury is strong and he then did the job well at Wagga (1200m),” O'Shea said.

"He is probably crying out for this trip now and we should get a good guide as to where we go next after this race.”

"She obviously has a good record and we expect her to go through her grades pretty quickly,” O'Shea said.

"She is a nice type and will appreciate the roomier Rosehill course.”

O'Shea's final runner is Glintz in the last race of the day, the The Australian Rotary Health Handicap over 1400 m.

Glintz looked good in his all-the-way win at Hawkesbury's stand-alone Saturday race meeting late last month.

"He did a few things wrong in his first couple of runs this campaign but we've now got him back on track,” he said.

"He will just go through the grades for the time being – he'll be staying in Sydney for the moment as the prizemoney is very good.”

O'Shea has elected to claim on Glintz and 2kg apprentice Taylor Lovelock-Wiggins has secured the ride.

At her second start Vantage Point proved too strong for her rival 3YO fillies in the GUINEAS RESTAURANT Handicap over 1250 m.

Vantage Point ridden by Tim Clark, was very quickly into stride and from a wide gate took up the running to work to the lead.

Clark was patient on the Anabaa filly and let her find her stride when she led the field up around the point of the turn and then went full boar over the final furlong to hold out late challenges.

“She’s a nice filly who still has improvement over time, probably this time next year she will be a good Saturday class maybe Listed type mare.” O’Shea said.

Vantage Point was heavily supported in the betting and on-course firmed from $5 into $4.50 at the jump.

“It was a really tough effort at just her second start and she has to keep finding up the straight,” Clark commented.

“She will have good improvement because she was wondering everywhere and changing legs the whole way up the straight.”

SYDNEY, Friday 13 May, 2011 – John O’Shea has completed a satisfying training achievement this afternoon at Scone when saddling up two runners and both duely saluted and both ridden by super hoop Nash Rawiller.

St Augustine scored in the CRESSFIELD Class 2 Handicap over 1300 m.

Firstly, St Augustine has been a somewhat trying exercise for O’Shea as the horse displayed above average ability earlier in his career, but delivered on that this afternoon when he scored in the CRESSFIELD Class 2 Handicap over 1300 m.

Rawiller was aggressive from the jump and put St Augustine outside the lead where he rolled along at an even gallop.

Rounding for home he was attacked from the outside and Rawiller nursed the Anabaa gelding before quickening up at the 250 m mark and then exerted all his strength to get his mount right through the line.

“He is a very nice horse over the 1300 or 1400 m, he has just lacked a bit of confidence and this will do him the world of good getting the result.” Rawiller said.

“He enjoys to roll along on his on terms, so he had to fight and fight he did, to his credit.”

O'Shea isn't running scared from the highly fancied Sincero and has set Tigress Lily for the event since she won an Inglis bonus race at Gosford last November.

"She's a really progressively filly," O'Shea said.

"She got badly interfered with last start in the James H B Carr Stakes and still picked herself up and got going again late to the line.

"Her first-up run in the PJ Bell was excellent, she trialled nicely here at Randwick on Friday (when third to Sincero).

"She's one of the few chances in the race, probably the genuine third pick in the race."

Tigress Lily has come through her last start eighth in the Listed James Carr Stakes and has pleased O'Shea with her workout on the outside of the course proper at Randwick this morning.

The very much in form hoop Christian Reith, has the ride on Tigress Lily.

Sydney's leading rider Nash Rawiller has been booked to partner three-year-old sprinting filly Solar Charged in either the Scone Quality (1100m) on Friday or the 3YO Fillies Handicap (1100m) on Saturday.

"I'd prefer to run her against her own age and sex but that will depend on the weight she gets," O'Shea said.

"She's going really well, she ran a nice trial on Friday and we're just looking for a dry track."

SYDNEY, Saturday 7 May, 2011 – John O’Shea’s gallant galloper Legsman was as tough as ever when gaining victory this afternoon at Canterbury Park in the RYDGES PARRAMATTA HANDICAP over 1900 m.

ABOVE: Courageous Legsman (inside) carries top weight and fights off all comers, Saturday afternoon at Canterbury Park.

Ridden by 2kg claiming apprentice Taylor Lovelock-Wiggins, Legsman adopted his customary high rolling front running style and was clear four lengths by the 600 m.

Swinging into the Canterbury straight Legsman continued his solid tempo and led the field up with the Darley runner, Zachary, looked a huge threat as he eventually travelled up outside the Pins gelding at the furlong.

But the Waikato Stud product, true to form refused to lie down and fought doggedly to the line for a most deserved win.

“We always thought the second horse was the danger but also thought he maybe suspect at a strong 1900 m,”

“So we made it a true staying test and he’s a great horse for his owners as evidenced by his record,”

“He’s a delight to train and there is a lovely race for him at Randwick in a few weeks.” O’Shea said.

"It was last chance stakes today,” The Randwick horseman said.

"I rang Lex [Piper - owner] on the way up and went through the race with him, what we thought he'd do and I said barring that he'll be on the first boat back to Perth.”

Glintz's ridden by form young hoop Brenton Avdulla, summed the race up perfectly, giving the gelding as easy run through the first half mile, approaching the 600 m Avdulla released the brakes and had all competitors chasing a long way from home.

From there, Glintz established a clear break on his rivals and went to the line for a clear-cut win over Regal Banter with Status Quo in third.

"He won pretty soft in the end,” Avdulla said.

"He's been racing without any confidence and even today he wasn't too sure half way down the straight when he was a few lengths in front of them, he was having a bit of a think about it.”

"Hopefully that will give him a bit of confidence and he can go onto win a few more.”

O'Shea said he hadn't looked beyond the Hawkesbury race for Glintz but indicated he was likely to stick to a similar theme for the horse's next run.

"One of the reasons we came here was to return to the scene of the crime as he's raced well here previously so we'll probably look to do something similar at a track like Rosehill where he's performed well in the past,” he said.

SYDNEY, Thursday 28 April, 2011 - Due to weather patterns this week Champion Thoroughbreds have decided to postpone their Open Day until Sunday 22nd May at 10 am. 

John O'Shea Racing Stables, 28 High Street, Randwick. Feel free to contact Julia or Jason from Champion Thoroughbreds on 02 9436 0795 for any queries or visit the Champion website championthoroughbreds.com.au.

Leading was purchased by prominent owner and breeder Tony Bott from a Team Williams dispersal sale, Bott then entrusted the Savabeel gelding in the care of top Randwick horseman O’Shea.

Leading won first up at Newcastle in a Class 2 Handicap (Saturday 9^th April) and graduated to the Kensington meeting today second up and maintained his unblemished record for Bott and O’Shea.

Ridden by form hoop Brenton Avdulla, Leading was never entirely comfortable in the very Heavy track conditions.

A good heady ride from Avdulla, when improving from back in the field and racing to the outside of the track to find firmer going, Leading ate up the better footing charging down the outside to run down Kiev and be a length clear at the line.

“He’s been an absolute delight since coming to our stable and we have taken our time with him and laid a solid foundation as he is a horse we envisage will get up over a bit further in trip.” O’Shea said.

“He will be better when he is on top of the ground as he does have a good turn of foot at the end of his races which will have him in more races than not,”

“We will keep him here in Sydney for one more and then possibly look at the Grand Prix Stakes in Brisbane and then possibly a QLD Derby berth if he warrants it from there.” O’Shea said.

SYDNEY, Saturday 23 April, 2011 - Randwick conditioner John O'Shea conceded he was "surprised” when his promising filly Sworn To Secrecy romped to victory in the Group II Emirates Emancipation Stakes (1600m) at Royal Randwick this afternoon.

The former Kiwi galloper came into Saturday's contest having had four Australian starts and her only failure had been the most recent run when finishing down the track on soft ground in the Group I Storm Queen Stakes at Rosehill on Golden Slipper day.

"It's a surprising, in the fact of how dominant she was,”

“It was a very good effort,” O'Shea said.

"I thought she was pretty flat in the ground at Rosehill last time but she swum today and this is as heavier track as you'd ever race in.”

"I was one happy trainer when he strode up at the top of the rise, full of running.”

Sworn To Secrecy settled back near the tail of the field and "raced keenly throughout” but as the field entered the straight the daughter of Keeper trucked up to challenge the leaders before going on with the job in the run to the line and cruising to a two and quarter length .

"She did a good job and is a filly with serious ability,” winning rider Brenton Avdulla said.

"I tried to lock her down but she wanted to fight me the whole way so I let her stride up at the 600 metres and she dug in and drew away from them.”

The 3yo filly, Sworn To Secrecy defeated Skyerush with Lonhro's sister, Shannara.

O'Shea said Sworn To Secrecy would now go for a break with another carnival later in the year on the agenda.

"I think that will do her now, she has made a massive transition from a restricted race in New Zealand to a Group 2 winner” he said.

"We'll try to get to Melbourne in the spring because there are some lovely mile races down there for mares.

"The Tesio Stakes on Cox Plate day and then you've got the Myer [Classic on Derby day].”

O'Shea said Steps In Time has done well since her tough first-up effort when running an extremely game second behind Red Tracer in the Listed P J Bell Stakes at Canterbury Park.

"She has come through the first-up run really pleasing, as she did have a hard run first up off what has been a limited preparation.” O'Shea said.

"With that mind the three weeks between runs suits her and which was our original plan anyway.”

"The Hawkesbury race fits in well for her and it's a nice break between runs.”

Steps In Time has only had two career starts, winning on debut over 1250m at Canterbury back in December before her tough effort when resuming over 1200m at Stakes level.

O'Shea said he believes Steps In Time's racing pattern should suit the 1400 metre trip and the Hawkesbury track is ideal to test out his theory.

"To test her out over 1400 metres Hawkesbury's is ideal,” he said.

"It's an easy 1400m.”

"She can bowl along up on the speed and it suits her racing style, she’s a big striding filly that needs plenty of gallop room.” O’Shea pointed out.

O’Shea’s boom galloper Lightinthenite is an early scratching from the South Pacific Classic which has shed some early disappointment on the weekend ahead for the Randwick horseman.

Never one to dwell on the peaks and valleys that participants deal with in this industry O’Shea states he is battle ready with a fit team of gallopers tomorrow.

“Look, Lightinthenite was our best chance tomorrow and we are disappointed he will not be participating but this is not the first and it wont be the last time we are in such a scenario,”

“It’s the nature of our game.” O’Shea pointed out.

“I have three remaining runners for the card tomorrow and all three are right where they need to be and I look forward to taking them to the races.”

“Dankeshane in the first (Race 1) is a really nice style of horse and he was ridden to far forward last start and was never at any stage comfortable,”

“Although there doesn’t appear to be a lot of speed on paper we will still be riding him conservatively and he will come with one last crack at them,”

“The big track, being home here at Randwick and the 1600 m he will be very much suited by.” O’Shea added.

O’Shea said of promising O’Reilly filly Cloud Valley of her improvement taken, but will need every bit of that in what is difficult assignment for the 2yo filly.

“She is an absolute delight to train and we are very encouraged as to what she is doing now for what she will develop into in the Spring and beyond.”

Solar Charged will contest the Group 1 Galaxy and O’Shea warns of his filly being right in the mix.

“This is by far the best order she has been in all preparation and her third to Hay List last start probably looks alright now after last Saturday.” (Hay List ran 2^nd to Black Cavier in the T J Smith)

“The race does look to have an abundant of speed but young Brenton is an aggressive rider and that’s the reason he has been engaged for the filly and we wont be changing our tactics,”

“We have added the winkers just to keep her on the job, her fitness levels are 100%, she has a good blood profile and looks an absolute picture, ready to run a career best performance.” O’Shea commented.

"That has obviously been our aim for her to emulate him,” O'Shea said.

"Interestingly her father ran third in the Challenge Stakes then came out and won the Galaxy and Solar Charged did the same thing the other day, so she's got a good profile going into this race.”

The Challenge Stakes form reads well after Hay List franked his win when pushing champion mare Black Caviar to new limits last Saturday in the Group I T J Smith Stakes.

"This has been the race the whole way along we have thought she would be most competitive in,” he said.

"She's trained on nicely and done well since getting back in Sydney.

"All of her runs this preparation have been excellent.

"We toyed with putting the blinkers on but she was a little bit too keen in them, so we've gone with the winkers which are a little bit more subtle.

"Her work this morning was sharp, she's at the top of her game and we're looking forward to Saturday on her home track.”

Rising Commands galloper Carmine King will contest the ROSEHILL GARDENS EVENT CENTRE 3YO Handicap over 1200 m.

Carmine King is fourth up into his debut racing preparation and has the right form on the board to be competitive according to his Randwick trainer John O’Shea.

“Carmine King is right at the top of his game for tomorrow’s assignment he has been on an upward spiral all preparation and that has continued to be the case,”

“He has come up with a very tricky draw and we wont be looking to having a set plan as he is a very tractable galloper and we will leave it in Christian's (jockey Chritian Reith) capable hands as to making judgement on where we end up in the run.”

“He will need luck, but I am very happy with the manner in which he will parade tomorrow, fit and healthy.” O’Shea warned.

O’Shea will also saddle up Petraeus in the THERACES.COM.AU Handicap over 1100 m.

Petraeus is on the come back trail after an extended period of time off but has barrier trialed in a very forward manner on two occasions.

“We have brought him up very slowly but his two trials were encouraging and his work has been right up to the mark here at home,”

“Once again he is by no way advantaged by barrier draw and being first up we wont be trying to bust all the work that has gone into getting him back to the races.” O’Shea clarified.

“Christian can go back and find some cover and save him up for one crack at them, he will improve significantly off the back of his performance.”

Tonight at Canterbury Park, the promising three-year-old filly Steps In Time will contest the Listed P J Bell Stakes over 1200 m.

O’Shea will also run Tigress Lily in the P J Bell Stakes and mentions that she is a filly to keep an eye on as she gets into her preparation.

“Its far from ideal where Tigress Lily has drawn but look it’s a starting point for her tonight, and she is a filly that is going particularly well but will improve once she has a couple of runs under her belt and gets over a bit further,”

“I am delighted in the way in which she goes to the races and with some luck in running she will be attacking the line late.” O’Shea commented.

SYDNEY, Friday 1 April, 2011 – John O’Shea holds a dominant share of the Golden Slipper market but he also plans on another Group 1 feature tomorrow at Rosehill Gardens with promising filly Sworn To Secercy.

SYDNEY, Wednesday 30 March, 2011 – Form Randwick conditioner John O’Shea is predicting a bright future for the emerging Lightinthenite, the winner of the Randwick Betting Auditorium Handicap (1300m) at Randwick on the Kensington track this afternoon.

SYDNEY, Wednesday 30 March, 2011 – John O’Shea is confident of continuing his winning form ahead of the Kensington meeting this afternoon.

Riding To Win who is undefeated this preparation in three starts and has been impressive in each outing.

“The horse has done a good job to get this far, as he is a day to day proposition,”

“He does come forward in very good order for today and appears to have have improved again,”

The Randwick conditioner did warn of obstacles for Riding To Win.

“Drawing the inside is not ideal for a big horse like him as we like to let him gallop,”

“There does appear to be good speed in the race so Nash will have to be nice and aggressive.”

O’Shea will also saddle up promising Lightinthenite who was very impressive on Newmarket day at Newcastle when on debut and treating his rivals with content, scoring an easy victory.

“Lightinthenite has done well since his first start and although he is up significantly in grade but it is the most suitable option for him.”

“He should get a lovely run and presented at the right time hopefully Christitian will be able to utilize the horse’s good turn of foot.”

“We are very happy with him.” O’Shea added.

The remaining two runners from the O’Shea yard are Rule Number One and Not A Snip A Doubt.

“Rule Number One is in a tough race but the open space of the Kensington track is most suitable for his racing pattern and he is a young stayer on the way up.”

“We probably rode Not A Snip A Doubt to far forward last start as he had the big weight and there was a lack of pace in the race,”
”He will be ridden quieter today and is drawn perfectly for him as he will come very quick late when Hughy produces him.”   

“She has traveled back in tremendous order and is going particularly well since getting back home,”

“We were very proud of her in Melbourne, and coming back to the Challenge is a lovely race for her.” O’Shea said.

“It will be interesting how circumstances play out in the race as a few may try and press forward, but she will be right at the top of her game and probably the slight query will be how rain effected the surface will be.”

“We are a winner at Warwick Farm and the 1000 m is right up her alley.” O'Shea added.

Champion Melbourne hoop Damien Oliver has been engaged for the Charge Forward filly.

SYDNEY, Saturday 19 March, 2011 - The John O’Shea-trained Elite Falls claimed victory over her arch rival Satin Shoes when she scored a win in the Group II Reisling Stakes over 1200 m at Rosehill Gardens this afternoon.

Elite Falls's jockey Jim Cassidy said he knew before arriving at Rosehill he’d be scoring a victory aboard the filly.

“She was always going to win,” Cassidy said.

“I knew she’d be winning on Tuesday when I galloped her.”

The speed of the race came from Defiant Dame, who took up the running with Satin Shoes settling outside her, while Cassidy was content to settle back near the tail of the field.

Entering the straight, Satin Shoes ambled up to take over and passing the 300 metres her jockey Hugh Bowman was still to ask his filly for the maximum effort.

Elite Falls burst out of the pack and when Bowman got sight of the danger he asked Satin Shoes to go but she was unable to match the O’Shea’s filly’s finishing burst and Elite Falls drew away over the final stages.

“We came here optimistic she’d run like that today,” John O’Shea said.

“She’s very fit and at the top of her game now so we’ll keep things ticking over and come back in a fortnight.”

SYDNEY, Wednesday 16 March, 2011 – Form Randwick conditioner John O’Shea had progressive galloper Riding To Win make it three victories on the bounce this afternoon on the Kensington track in the VAUCLUSE Handicap over 1400 m.

ABOVE: Champion hoop clears out on Riding To Win in the Vaucluse Handicap.

Carrying the Number 1 saddle cloth Riding To Win in the hands of premier hoop Nash Rawiller delivered in style when taking up his customary position in the lead, crossing over from a wide barrier.

Rawiller eased the tempo on Invincible Spirit gelding through the 800 m and then once straightening nursed him up the rise before powering away over the last 150 m to be two lengths clear on the line.

“We have given him plenty of time, as this preparation is off a year long break so to string his first three together for the campaign is encouraging and he is going along well.” O’Shea said.

“He is a week to week proposition with his front joints so we will just see how he comes through the run.”     

Sworn To Secrecy was purchased by O’Shea out of New Zealand last year after just having the four restricted race starts.

The Keeper filly made her Australian debut with a strong performance on the Kensington track getting back last in a slowly run race and attacked the line a long way out crossing second position.

“She was encouraging first up, her effort was pleasing from our point of view and the form since has been franked with Turnstiles who won her race running a very close second in the Wiggle last Saturday.” O’Shea pointed out.

“Drawing 19 is obviously far from ideal but all in all the race is suitable for where she is at and she gets into the race extremely well in terms of the weight scale,”

“Her racing pattern is back of the speed so we will just deal with what we are dealt with.”

“She will take some racing before being at the top of her game, but in saying that she is going well heading into Sunday,”

“It’s an opportunity for her to maybe sneak some black type early in her preparation.” O’Shea added.

Champion Throughbreds horse Carmine King will be O’Shea’s other runner at Canberra in the ACTEWAGL Maiden Plate over 1200 m and him too O’Shea is pleased with.

“Carmine King is having only his second start and he was good the other day at Kembla and a case could of made that he was unlucky,”

“However, he has taken the natural improvement and the blinkers go on for Sunday so we think he’s more than a competitive chance.”  

O’Shea had Elite Falls entered for the Sweet Embrace Stakes & also the Black Opal Stakes this weekend but has decided to bypass both.

“After serious consideration to running this weekend, our preference is to go back to the circuit of Rosehill Gardens where she performed so credibly at last start.”

“The filly is in great order and consequently we will now contest the Reisling Slipper Trial, Saturday week.”

“She performed so well off the two weeks between runs heading into the Silver Slipper so hopefully we will gain a Golden Slipper birth and the same will be the case heading into it.” O’Shea added.

Saturday’s standout 2YO performer, Foxwedge, pulled up with a clean bill of health according to O’Shea and will also run in the colts division the same day as Elite Falls.

SYDNEY, Saturday 5 March, 2011 - John O'Shea-trained colt Foxwedge has confirmed himself as a genuine contender for the richest juvenile event in the world, $3million Group 1 Golden Slipper next month with a stylish win in today's Clarry Conners 2YO Plate over 1100 m at Warwick Farm.

Five faced the starter in the $100,000 event, with the interest centred on the O’Shea trained Foxwedge and the Peter Snowden trained Anise who were both last start winners in their only previous race experience. 

ABOVE: Foxwedge & Nash Rawiller power into Golden Slipper calculations. 

The race turned into a match race between the pair with Anise and Tim Clark, taking the lead with Foxwedge and Nash Rawiller camping in their outside.

Once into the straight Clark put the pressure on and he urged forward to try and get a break over the colt.

Rawiller never let Foxwedge lose touch and set out after the filly stalking her at the point of the turn.

With 200m to run they were running alongside each other before Rawiller increased the tempo and Foxwedge responded with raw power and 100 m out was two lengths clear and eased down at the line.

O'Shea has now won the feature juvenile race on Chipping Norton Stakes day for the past three years and declared the best was yet to come from the Fastnet Rock colt.

“He wobbled around the corner but it was a good day out and I think he will appreciate the wide open spaces of Rosehill and we are looking forward to getting him there in a fortnight,” said O'Shea.

“He is a young, big strong colt and the more times he gets to the races the better,” he said, adding that he had the option of gear changes for subsequent races.

“A very gifted galloper” was how top jockey Nash Rawiller described Foxwedge after he produced his dominant display.

“What I really like about him is we’ve got a few options going into the better races,” Rawiller said.

”He’s a genuine Slipper horse and has shown us that all along.”

Foxwedge will have his next step up in the $300,000 Group 2 Jacob's Creek Todman Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill on March 19th.

Ridden by the ever consistent Christian Reith, Riding To Win, from a wide draw bounced out and crossed to gain the lead and force a strong gallop over the early stages.

Reith had backed off the speed before the point of the turn before letting the Invincible Spirit gelding rip and the big grey powered to the line one and half lengths clear.

There were no excuses for the beaten brigade and after a long lay off it has been a very good training feat by O’Shea.

“We had too give him a long extended break and he has had sufficient time and has had two starts back for two commendable wins.” O’Shea commented.

“He is a lovely big strong horse with a free flowing action and appreciates when we let him gallop as you saw this afternoon,”

“We wont be getting too far ahead of ourselves and keep him in his grade and look too keep stringing ‘ones’ next too his name.”

“It’s a beautiful Wyong afternoon and it’s a great result for Trevor (Stuckey) and Penny (Yan) as they love a winner anywhere.”   

“She carried some residual fitness today after short freshen up off her last preparation, to be prepared for the upcoming mares staying races in the Autumn,”

“There was no doubting how well she was going after her strong trial and the manner in which she has been going at home.” Trainer John O’Shea said.

“It’s a very positive performance heading towards the Aspiration Quality in a fortnight where she is unbeaten at the mile.”

In what was an even betting race the highly touted Rain Affair was kept hard in the market and started a short quote with Not A Snip A Doubt on the second line of betting but gaining an upper hand with peach of ride by Hugh Bowman.

From the jump there was an intention of leading by different mounts forcing Rain Affair back a pair and Bowman was at his best early in the race forcing himself into the winning position a long way from home settling on favourite’s back.

With a frantic pace up front allowed the favoured runners a kind run in when straightening for home and Not A Snip A Doubt once gaining the perfect tag up the running he let down with a quick turn of foot drawing away to the line three quarters of length over Rain Affair.

“His is as honest a horse as you get and he has been rewarded for his consistency,” jockey Bowman said.

“We were going to win a long way out by the way he travelled and the helped by the solid tempo.”

SYDNEY, February 15 - Words such as outstanding, scintillating and naturally being overall happy have summed up John O’Shea’s morning at Tuesday’s Rosehill trials.

O’Shea produced one of his leading Golden Slipper contenders Foxwedge for the first time since his relatively easy win at his only start as an odds-on favourite at Rosehill in November.

The son of Fastnet Rock greatly impressed his trainer with a short half head second to the David Payne-trained San Jose over 900m in the time of 53.70 secs, one of quickest heats of the morning.

“I’m very happy with his trial, considering where he is at in his preparation,” O’Shea said.

“He has a lot of improvement and was blowing a fair bit after it.

“I’ve been happy with him all along, but he had grown so much we had to find out where he was at and he’ll improve substantially out of today.

“We’ll have a look at him over the next few days where we head with him because we will still have to increase his fitness levels.”

O’Shea felt his standouts were Glintz, who went “outstandingly”, Warpath who was “scintillating” and recent stable acquisition from New Zealand, three-year-old filly Sworn To Secrecy.

Sworn To Secrecy has had four starts in New Zealand for two wins and was purchased by stable clients of O’Shea with a view to competing in the top fillies races, including the AJC Oaks.

The daughter of Keeper finished second in her 900m trial to the Gai Waterhouse-trained Kezzabelle by a length in 53.43 secs, the quickest time of the morning.

“Her form in New Zealand is strong and she is a nice filly,” O’Shea said.

“She’ll probably kick off at Kensington on Friday week then look towards the Keith Nolan at Kembla.

TAB NUMBER 1 CLUB Handicap over 1400 m for 3YO’s O’Shea will saddle up two runners, both with their share of talent in the form of Freyberg and Pacquiao, the latter who is coming off a seven and half length win at Wyong last start.

“We really don’t like running our horses against each other but programming only allows a race of this nature which is by far suitable for both Freyberg and Pacquaio,” O’Shea said sternly.

“Pacquiao had it all going for him last start and got the job done, he is third up today and right at the top of his game, he deserves to be the horse to beat in the race.”

“Freyberg is a horse the stable has a lot of time for and he will need the run this afternoon and also the heat is a query for him,” O’Shea warned.

“He is a quality colt that we are ambitious about and today is a perfect starting point for him in terms of race conditions, he will improve significantly off the run.”

“Rawiller engaged is always a positive on our horses but this horse in particular is tailored made for Nash and that will have him be a competitive chance.” O’Shea said in reference to Freyberg’s rider Nash Rawiller.

Private Label has always shown promise and has very good race statistic’s, he will have taken enormous natural improvement from his first up run.

“Private Label we expect to be in the finish today, there doesn’t appear to be a lot of speed in the race which will be a concern,”

“But a good barrier will have him get a kind run in transit and the blinkers on today will have him sharp and hitting the hard.”

“We can not fault him and are very happy in the manner in which he will be turned out at the races today, its never ideal racing 3YO’s against older horses but he should be right in a race of this nature today.”

One interesting runner at Wyong also, for Champion Thoroughbreds and will race in the TAB Number One Club’s colours is She’s Number One who O’Shea said will give the race a shake.

“She is going as well as she can first up and we have applied the blinkers,”

“She is a very nice style of filly and will improve with time but she has a good barrier and should race in the box seat or somewhere thereabouts and be given a chance to attack the line.”

“We have nice chances across the day and look forward to taking them all to the races and being competitive.” O’Shea added.

Christian Reith was aboard the Elvstroem mare and was positive from the outset, taking up the running working into a rhythm up front.

ABOVE: John O'Shea trained Viva Las (inside) holds out Miskish for a tough win.

Viva Las charged around the turn and was full of running to the post holding off a late charge from Miskish.

“It was a good effort today and good heady ride by Christian who rated her perfectly out in front and let her gallop which is what she appreciates.” O’Shea said.

“We are wanting to give her an opportunity to run over a bit of ground this preparation and she is giving a good indication that she will,”

“She came home in 34.09 (seconds) today so that tells you that she sustained a long gallop over the concluding stages.”

O’Shea said Viva Las will look to return to a similar graded race back at Rosehill in a fortnight.    

Red Waratah will contest the CHAMPAGNE BAR Handicap over 1550 m with Christian Reith aboard on the Kensington track.

“Red Waratah was first up the other day off a long injury enforced layoff and drew a horror gate so our hand was forced to ride him quiet.”

”He has made immense improvement heading into today and the small field and good barrier we will be taking advantage of and he will be ridden in an aggressive manner and hopefully Christian can take the race by the scruff of the neck and dictate terms.” O’Shea commented.

"It is a competitve race and and for a small field they may roll along a bit, but from our draw we should get a lovely run,"

“He is in exceptional order and his work has indicated that a race of this nature at this stage of his preparation will be suitable.”

“The horses were there providing you put a bit of work in,” O’Shea said.

“We’ll have about a dozen coming to our Randwick stables and there are a couple of genuine types who have been selected with the Magic Millions race day in mind.”

“He’s just a lovely running strong colt out of a speed family that ticks all the boxes in terms of being a definite chance of lining up the 2YO Classic next year.”

Miss Mooney Mooney is a stakes winning Redoute’s Choice mare and O’Shea said the mating of this horse is a proven cross being by More Than Ready out of a Danehill line mare and has the physical presence to match his pedigree.

“The Miss Mooney Mooney colt is for long time stable clients Trevor Stuckey and Penny Yan of Racing To Win fame.”

O’Shea will also entrusted in the care of Keith Biggs’s purchase lot 288 another by sire More Than Ready out of Danehill mare Legal Consent.

“Keith Biggs bought an exceptional filly that is big and strong and we have a nice filly by the same sire that Keith races called Elite Falls, so we hope Keith’s luck with More Than Ready continues,”
”The Abrahams family secured an outstanding filly with a beautiful pedigree,”

Like many of the races on the card, it was a spirited betting event with first starter Zedity starting a popular $2.75 favourite and heavily backed.

All looked normal approaching the 500m mark with Zedity on the fence inside Miss Marx and Maigret’s Cat, both of whom were hard in the market and all contesting the lead.

Zedity then looked to climb the running rail, sprawling badly and for all money looked to have fallen, but somehow picked itself up from the turf with jockey Corey Brown still in the saddle and the incident putting Zedity out of the race.

Ridden by big race rider of the season, Hugh Bowman, Miss Marx escaped any interference of the fall and grabbed the race by the scruff of neck.

The Anabaa filly and Maigret’s Cat went toe to toe up the straight clearing out from the rest of the field some four lengths and after a tooth and nail battle down the straight, Miss Marx prevailed in a tight photo finish.

Much to the delight with plenty of roaring and cheering of the animated ownership group of Miss Marx.

“John told me to be nice and positive and that she is tough, and my word she is, to her credit she fought like a tiger and every time I thought we were gone, she kept rallying.” Bowman recalled.

“She will improve again as she still has a fair bit to learn, it was a good tough win.”

It was all a one act affair for the Oratorio 3YO and rider Christian Reith rode him extremely confidently and from the jump wanted the lead to control the race.

From the 700 m it was simply a procession as Reith increased the tempo and Pacquiao was full of running and railed up tightly heading for the post.

Pacquiao further extended his lead and bolted in at the post, in a very comprehensive and impressive performance for a smiling O’Shea.

“He got conditions to suit today, and he capitilised on that and could not of done any better job,” O’Shea commented.

“We will just take him slowly as he would of derived some much needed confidence from today, and will look for a suitable race over a bit further.”

Pacquiao contests the ELANORA HOTEL EAST GOSFORD Maiden Handicap over 1200 m and has drawn a soft gate which O’Shea says will be utilized.

“Pacquiao has drawn a soft gate today and does have good speed away from the jump so if he’s not box seating, I would imagine he will take up the running.”

“He’s strips a lot fitter today and it was encouraging effort first up going into a race of this nature second up.”

“We have applied the blinkers and hopefully that will do the trick as it has really sharpened him up at home and Christian has a good understanding of the horse and the way he is to be ridden.”

Pacquiao disappointed in his first racing preparation but O’Shea mentioned that that could be attributed to wet tracks and that the Oratorio gelding is at his best on top of the ground.

Crystal Whip will be having her third career race start in the LITTLE BAY Handicap, after racing well on two previous occasions when being placed at both starts.

“1300 m is ideal for this filly for where she is at in her preparation and we are very happy with the manner in which she has trained on, being 1300 she can get a chance too settle and then utilize her good turn of foot.” O’Shea said.

“Probably the outside barrier is not ideal but I’m pretty confident she can overcome that as she has really good gate speed and the blinkers go on for Wednesday.”

“She will race handy and the improvement she has taken from her first two starts is significant and this will have her in good shape alone.”

The Randwick horseman also has two runners in the WATSONS BAY Handicap over 1300 m in the form of Private Label and Red Waratah.

“Private Label will be open to plenty of improvement when he goes to the races, but he has come back well and does look a picture.”

“For Private Label its going to about whether he can cope with the firmer footing that we are racing on at the moment as his best form has been when there has been some cut in the ground.”

“Red Waratah has had an extended break and he has trialled strongly in the lead up and should he get run Wednesday or we decide to run him Thursday at Wyong his fresh up record is good and gets running along and makes his own luck.” O’Shea added.

“Black Fix has trained on in fantastic order and keeps going from strength to strength this preparation,”

“It does look a lovely race for him and he has an ideal draw and Nash has a very good understanding of him.” O’Shea said.

“He gets his chance to get over further today and he has given every indication that that will not be a problem.”

“Probably the only concern is the with the rail being out six metres and the way the track condition plays and if he can make up ground.”

“The horse is fit, sound and healthy and right at the top of his game.”

O’Shea also has Pacquiao who is coming off the one impressive trial win at Gosford.

“He is open to significant improvement, in saying that his work is very strong at home but he has drawn terribly with the outside gate so that will make it tough for him.”

“We are looking for a positive day out at the races for him to get his campaign under way,”

“As long as he is getting to the line in an acceptable manner we will be encouraged.” O’Shea pointed out.

SYDNEY, Sunday 26 December, 2010 – John O’Shea’s emerging mare Warpath continues to repay the patience of her connections notching her second consecutive win in theNew Years Day @ Randwick Handicap over 1600 m at Royal Randwick this afternoon. 

Lining up for just the tenth time, the lightly-raced four-year-old has now has a staggering 50 % winning record.

Flying Success started to struggle on the turn and dropped out while Warpath loomed up the rise ominously, full of running.

When Reith asked the steely grey mare for an effort Warpath responded, sailing down the centre of the track and comfortably holding out Taransay to score by 1 ¼ lengths.

The winner ran 1.35.28 for the mile, her final 600m in 34.74 and Reith has no doubt she can go right on with the job.

"We had a nice run, the pace slowed up about the 900 so when we got to the half mile I elected to put her out three deep and give her clear space and the rest is history," Reith said.

"She's a nice little horse going forward and the owners are going to have a great time with her."

O’Shea will take the wraps off blueblood filly Steps In Time THERACES.COM.AU Handicap over 1250 m.

Steps In Time is coming off two eye catching trial performances and as always from O’Shea’s yard she will be extremely well educated for today’s debut.

“Steps In Time is a filly with a big frame and has been given the necessary time to start to grow into herself which she is still doing,” O’Shea described.

“It’s fairly harsh on the filly to be expecting her to win in her first race start, but she has done everything right to suggest she has something to offer in life.”

“It looks to be a nice race for her and she has good speed away from the machines so we would anticipate her to be not far from the speed, but as long as Christian has her traveling comfortably that will allow her to finish off the race.”

“We are very happy with her.” O’Shea added.

The second runner for the Randwick conditioner is the ever so consistent speed machine Not A Snip A Doubt in the ROSEHILL EVENTS CENTRE Handicap over 1100 m.

“His barrier trial was very encouraging and the manner in which trialled,”

“He is going particularly well at home and races well fresh, he was unlucky first up last preparation.”

“There does look to be good genuine tempo in race, and he is drawn ideally to get cover in the run and Nash can have the last crack at them.”

“Look both horses are going well and we do expect them both to be very competitive in each of their respected races.” O’Shea finalized.   

Black Fix was full of running rounding for home and did get into a bumping dual briefly and was five lengths of the leaders, before Rawiller went work and both horse and rider came with a strong gust of speed down the outside to nail inside runners and be a neck clear on the line.

“He’s still got improvement this horse from that run today,” Rawiller said.

“He still doesn’t do everything right but when settled and I really asked him he stuck right to task and was strong through the line.”

Rawiller said Black Fix had more wins in store in the future and said he will appreciate a race with good genuine tempo as he really attacks the line.

Black Fix won first up impressively on Melbourne Cup Day before having to run in an unsuitable event second up and then onto last start in Saturday grade where he was the hard luck story of the day.

“He’s still looking to get out now!” stated trainer John O’Shea when referring to Black Fix’s last start hectic run in transit.

“He simply didn’t get the opportunity when the breaks came, we just hope that won’t be the case today,”

The Lonhro gelding has impressed O’Shea with the continual improvement he keeps taking.

“He has trained on in a pleasing manner and is fit and healthy today,”

“I thought he had drawn ideally and it looks a lovely race for him and also getting the services of Nash is always a plus.” O’Shea added.

“We will leave it in Nash’s capable hands and we will have him where he is comfortable so he can really attack the line.”

“I’m really happy with him and he gets a lot of ticks today in his favour.”

The John O’Shea trained Warpath made it four wins from nine starts and proved too strong after a luckless run first up.

“Her effort was exceptionally good first up and she took immense improvement from that and is a handy little mare stringing a good record together.” O’Shea said.

Ridden by premiership leading jockey Corey Brown, Warpath settled in a lovely position midfield one off the rail.

Given and unimpeded run in transit by Brown, the Reset mare travelled up the rise full of running and was challenged at the furlong on the inside by Apparitions, but Warpath knuckled down for the fight and drew away a length clear on the line.

“She was never going to get beat today, she had a great run and when I asked her she disposed of the rest of them,” Brown said.

“She still has improvement in her, and the better she settles in the run she will be very effective over a longer trip.”

O’Shea has four runners, his first being consistent staying type Dashing Saveel in the RANDWICK BETTING AUDITORIUM Handicap over 2400 m.

“I’m really happy with this horse and he has continued on a steady upward spiral and going as good as he has gone all preparation.” O’Shea remarked happily.

“We probably just weren’t as aggressive as we should have been in the run last start, as he is very dour and really needs a staying test.”

Mr Versace burned punters last Friday, but he will back up tomorrow in the AJC CONVENTION CENTRE Handicap (1300 m).

“Look Mr Versace did get pipped on Friday and being in the first race of day probably didn’t help him, as the pattern there on Friday turned out being against his performance which added merit to his effort.”

“I cant fault him and is really healthy and will get a good run and be handy to them from the gate and we’d like to think he will look the winner at some point.”

The final event on the card O’Shea will saddle up two charges in the form of talented mare Warpath and the luckless Miss The Cut.

“Both look great and Warpath is obviously first up and open to plenty of improvement but she trialled in very good order, we will be forced to ride her conservatively from the horror gate,”

“Miss The Cut is going well and has finally drawn a gate which will help her,”

“From the eight (barrier) she can take her time and come across and sit outside the lead which is the manner in which we have been desperate to ride her,” O’Shea insisted.

“This will help her relax in the run in order to finish off her race.”   

SYDNEY, Saturday 20 November, 2010 - The John O’Shea trained boom colt Foxwedge was an impressive debut winner and oozed class throughout the Always Recycling Handicap over 1100 m at Rosehill this afternoon.

A recent trial winner by eight lengths, Foxwedge was sent out in the tomato sauce a $1.30 chance.

The strapping son of Fastnet Rock wasn’t the quickest away from the machines but from the outside gate he showed natural speed contesting the lead in the early stages.

The riders of two of Foxwedge’s rivals, Dream Choice and Out of the Shadow, had similar ideas and made the hot pot do plenty of work before crossing to sit outside Dream Choice.

In the straight, Foxwedge’s jockey Corey Brown got busy approaching the 300 m and the big colt strode up to take over, but lack of experience saw him wanting to lay in before moving clear late in the piece to win by a comprehensive margin.

“He’s got to learn a hell of a lot,” Brown said.

“He doesn’t know very much at all.”

“Down the back I tried to squeeze him to go to the front because they we’re never going to give me any favours but the more I pushed him the greener he got.”

“Then in the straight I had to let him down a bit earlier than I’d have liked because he was so green.”

“I knew he had plenty there but I had to get some momentum up and he just wanted to lay in towards the rails.”

“He’s pretty good, no doubt about that.”

Trainer John O’Shea was delighted with the debut result but warned he will need to improve.

 “He has got a lot of improvement on what he did today,” O’Shea said.

“He needs to improve obviously, he will.”

Foxwedge is raced by Dr and Mrs Edmund Bateman and cost $925,000 as a yearling at the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale, making him the second most expensive son of Fastnet Rock sold.

O'Shea finished the day at Rosehill with Informality proving to strong in the CFMEU CONSTRUCTION Open Handicap over 1400 m.

Informality adopted on speed tactics and with leading young apprentice Informality in the saddle settled outside the lead.

Adams wasted no time on straightening and let Informality rip and was contested late by Adashim but Informality full of running proved to strong.

"Yes he loves it here at Rosehill thats why we program based on running here," O'Shea said

ABOVE: Informality's love affair with Rosehill continued this afternoon proving too strong.

"That was a good second performance today as he has improvement to come."

"He enjoys galloping room to the outside of horses and he was able to get those terms today,"

"We will come back here in two weeks and have him ready for the Festival Stakes." O'Shea declared.  

In winning, Tigress Lily picked up a $50,000 bonus for connections, continuing a healthy few weeks for trainer John O'Shea, who prepared Elite Falls to win the $250,000 Microflite Inglis Banner on Cox Plate Day as well and Gujju to land a $100,000 Inglis Bonus at Randwick last month.

Tigress Lily has now won two of her three starts with today's $90,000 haul taking her earnings into six figures.

O'Shea plans to spell the filly before bringing her back and plan a preparation geared towards some black type.

O’Shea also had the very unlucky Gujju in the race who was the hard luck story of the race never traveling any better than three deep.

“They will both go for a spell now and they both have had successful campaigns as both horses have won bonus races which are fantastic for connections.” O’Shea said.

All the talk leading into Saturday has been of boom 2YO Foxwedge who trialled impressively at Rosehill and won by a margin of eight lengths and doing it in style.

“Foxwedge has done everything right and will need to continue with that process heading into Saturday,” A reserved O’Shea said.

“Everything he has shown us to date suggests that he may have a bright future but until they portray that race day we never get too far ahead of ourselves.”
”Nash had a prior commitment to riding in Perth this weekend.” O’Shea added when quizzed as to jockey selection, Corey Brown has gained the much hyped engagement.

Informality who showed a glimpse of previous good form first up, with fast finishing sectionals on a leader biased track, and gets in to the Open 1400 m event on good terms.

“He is going well and probably just needs the one more run but he was excellent first up and has very good track and second up record, he will be more than competitive on Saturday.”

Honest Lies will back up over the same distance (1500 m) as last week and O’Shea was very bullish heading into Saturday.

“Probably if young Josh had his time over again he just may have been a touch more patient and in the end Honest Lies was only beaten a length and a half,”

“We don’t have to re invent the wheel to turn that around and I’m confident we can see him in the finish come Saturday.”

O’Shea also has the horse that attracts all the headlines with Sky Racing’s Greg “Rads” Radley and Terry “TK” Kennedy sharing in the ownership.

“Military Gal is in the best overall condition she has been in a long while, I’m very happy with her and she races well fresh and she is definitely that on Saturday and she also has no weight on her back and is course and distance winner,”

“She can race a little fierce but with some cover from the gate and presented at the right time, all the signs are there she will perform competitively.”

O’Shea has two runners in the De Bortoli Wines Inglis Bonus 3YO event over 1600 m in the form of Gujju and Tigress Lily.

“Gujju has had a the trip away to Melbourne, but has done extremely well since arriving back at Randwick.”

“We have just kept him ticking over the key for him is that he does not want too much of a rain effected track, he is going aswell as he was when he won two starts back.” O’Shea said.

“Tigress Lily has had a really good preparation and continues to go from strength to strength,”

“We gave her a trial on Friday just to keep her up the mark, she is going particularly well.”

“They are both winning chances there’s no two ways about that, there hasn’t been a matchstick between at home.” O’Shea said in a assured manner.

The Randwick horseman also warned of a very sharp improved performance from his other runner More Than Curly in the Schweppes Maiden Plate over 1000 m.

“More Than Curly is a new addition to our stable and we are still getting to know each other, he is in great order and we will ride him more positively on Thursday and make sure he is in the race.”

Kiss ‘n Chase will jump in the final event on the card, ASHCROFT HANDICAP over 1100 m.

“Kiss ‘n Chase is first up and will take good improvement from whatever she does today, in saying that she does race well fresh.” O’Shea said.

“She has a soft draw and hopefully the inside of the track can play fair as sometimes it can be the case that is not so advantageous to be on the inside when rain effected.”

The Red Ransom filly has the impost of 59 kg but does get the services of premier hoop Nash Rawiller.

“There does appear to be genuine speed in the race which will enable her chances to attack the line, we don’t put Nash on and have to tell him where to be,"

"We will leave it to him to negotiate a kind run in transit and the faster the go the the closer she will be in the finish,”

“It’s a nice starting point for her.” O’Shea added.  

SYDNEY, Tuesday 2 November, 2010 – The lightly raced promising galloper Duke Of Cornwall kicked off what was a rewarding Melbourne Cup day for Randwick conditioner John O’Shea at his home track with a winning double.

Duke Of Cornwall started odds on favourite and from the jump took control of the race and took up the running to get his own way in front.

Rounding for home rider Christian Reith came away from the inside rail to the better part of the going in the middle of the track.

Reith held the Encosta De Lago colt together as he was full of running up over the rise and sprinted quickly under the top weight to be hold on comfortably at the line and be to good in the SYDNEY CITY TOYOTA 3YO Handicap over 1200 m.

“He’s a horse that we have had a nice opinion of since he came into the yard and he deserved the win today,” O’Shea said.

“He will improve next preparation as he has some strengthening up to yet and when he can be ridden with some thing to chase he will be a better horse.”

O’Shea quinellad the last race on the card when Black Fix peeled of his stablemate Romanus’s back and grabbed him on the line.

“The two boy’s gave both mounts a peach and Christian just got to the front a bit early on Romanus who has a short sharp sprint, young Josh was instructed to find his back which would take him into the race and that was the case.” O’Shea observed.

“It’s a promising start to Black Fix’s preparation as he will come on significantly from the run, Romanus has had the two starts for us now and raced well so he is knocking on the door.”

O’Shea also had his sole runner at Kembla Grange, Gold Medallist salute when racing up on the speed and holding off all rivals over 1600 m to add to a successful day for the Randwick horseman.    

MELBOURNE, Friday 29 October, 2010 – Randwick trainer John O’Shea is bouyant as ever when discussing his runners for the big ‘Derby Day’ Saturday meeting at Flemington.

Solar Charged will contest the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes up the famous Flemington straight six, 1200 m.

“Solar Charged goes into Saturday in great order and the best she has been pre race, she will need to be,”

“It would be nice if the rain stayed away, as if that was the case I think she can have more control on the race.” O’Shea said.

“Corey (Brown) is well aware of what this filly is capable of and he knows what he needs to do for us to see a good competitive performance.”

“It’s her first go up the straight which makes her vulnerable but she is a last start winner who was put in an extremely encouraging performance heading into a race that is the nature of the Coolmore.” O’Shea added.

The out of form Jessicabeel is looking to turnaround her last start disappointment at Moonee Valley which O’Shea is happy to forgive.

“Missing the Caulfield Cup put her preparation out of kilter a bit and her first go Melbourne way wasn’t ideal that it was at Moonee Valley,”

“But it is what it is and I am delighted with her at home, and if she can have a good performance tomorrow within five lengths of the winner that will be a positive way forward into Tuesday.”

The Racing Victoria Stewards had the Zabeel mare intensely vetted on Thursday morning which revealed that Jessicabeel is in perfectly good order as O’Shea had previously insisted.

On the ‘Derby Day’ support card at Rosehill Gardens O’Shea has nice even chances in the form of Midnight Wine, Honest Lies and Informality.

“Midnight Wine has the application of blinkers and we will be positive from the gate and put her into the race, she has improved significantly from her first up run.”

“Honest Lies is going particularly well and trained on in superb order, his competitors will know he is in the race on Saturday.”

“Informality is first up and trialled well leading into tomorrow and will need the run but is where he needs to be to be competitive first up.”

Jessicabeel ran near last in the Moonee Valley Cup and was reported by stewards to have pulled up lame.

But O'Shea said the mare was in good order yesterday and would back up on Derby Day.

"Corey just said she didn't get around the Valley so we won't worry about it," O'Shea said.

"We will run in the Lexus Stakes as we don't want to go to the Melbourne Cup off a negative run like that, we have booked Darren Beadman to ride her on Saturday.”

"Everything had been chugging along good then we missed the Caulfield Cup and had that debacle at Moonee Valley.

"But we can turn it around in seven days and get her back on track with a nice run next Saturday."

“In Sydney she got trapped very wide, she had a pretty torrid run and had the audacity to run well in a race where they ran a very fast time,” O’Shea said.

“She might just have a bit of quality on her opposition today more than anything.”

O’Shea said Elite Falls tuned up for her first run over the Melbourne way of going with a pleasing jumpout at Flemington last Friday.

“If they can get around that inner ground at Flemington then they will get around the Valley,” O’Shea said. “I had no doubts this way of going.”

O’Shea said he would send Elite Falls to the spelling paddock with next year’s Sydney autumn carnival in mind.

Contesting the ROBSON CIVIL PROJECTS Fillies & Mares Maiden Plate over 1200 m, Tigress Lily gave hoop Christian Reith an arm chair ride in the run, settling in the box seat, and at the point of the turn peeled across leaders heels and let down with a sharp turn of foot towards.

Race rival Magical Anna came with a run and challenged Tigress Lily 100 m out and, the Snitzel filly fought back and was strong through the line.

“She’s a really nice style of filly and it is a credit to her to come and win at her first race start,”

“We won’t get to bold with her this preparation she can just stick to her grade, as whatever she does now will be a bonus for the Autumn.” O’Shea said.

“When she gets to 1400 m and a mile will be where we see the best of her next preparation.” O’Shea added.

Sold by Kulani Park, Gujju was a $65,000 purchase from the Melbourne Premier Sale.

The $2.6million Inglis Race Series heads south next Saturday for the running of the $250,000 Inglis Banner for two-year-olds over 1000m at Moonee Valley.  

O’Shea will be looking to pick off another bonus race as he has talented juvenile Elite Falls gunning for the race and has engaged super hoop Nash Rawiller.

John O’Shea’s talented stayer was withdrawn at 7.21am on Friday after succumbing to an injury that is likely to end his spring campaign.

The O’Shea stable will still be representative in the world’s richest handicap by the Sydney Cup winner Jessicabeel.

The pair were put through their paces on the course proper finished their workout on level terms in extremely good order.

Both horses, Group One winners by super sire Zabeel trainer O'Shea said he could not be happier with his duo.

"They're just going as good as they can go. We're going into Saturday with no excuses and that's all you can ask for,"

O'Shea reported that both horses pulled up well from their hitout and will be given a relatively easy time from now until Saturday's race.

O’Shea said he’s happy to forgive both in their last outings in the Turnbull Stakes, where Zabrasive ran ninth and Jessicabeel finished 10th, as the Flemington track that day was not suiting horses running on.

Irrespective of where Zabrasive draws in the Caulfield Cup, O'Shea insisted the four-year-old will be ridden more positively on this occasion.

"There's genuine speed with Gai's pair (Herculian Prince and Once Were Wild) and even Anthony's horse Zavite, he'll roll along, but we won't die wondering," he promised.

"We're going into Saturday confident that the horse (Zabrasive) is at the top of his game, so if he doesn't run well it won't be through lack of preparation."

O'Shea said that Jessicabeel will wear blinkers for her Caulfield Cup assignment and that he expects her to race in a midfield position.

"Caulfield will just top her off. She's going along the right way," he observed.

"She'll run at Caulfield, then we'll definitely run her on the Saturday prior to the Melbourne Cup. Then she'll be ready to rock and roll for the first Tuesday."

O'Shea said the five-year-old mare is going very well at this stage of her preparation and that she is not effective until she gets to 2400m and beyond.

"She gets to the mile and a half (2400m) on Saturday. The only thing is it's a Caulfield Cup," he remarked.

O'Shea said the prospect of rain between now and the race affecting the state of the track was of some concern, particularly if there is a considerable downpour.

"Anything worse than slow would not be in our favour," he warned. "Both horses have won in the slow, so we'd be happy up to about that."

O'Shea is just delighted to have two competitors in this year's Caulfield Cup.

"You have to pinch yourself. These are the races that everyone dreams of winning," he stated.

Both horses have now had three runs since commencing their Spring campaigns.

"They benefit from significant weight relief on Saturday. They're fit. They're well. They're in a good frame of mind and if either horse gets a nice run in the race, they'll run very well," O'Shea concluded.

Contesting the EMU PLAINS Benchmark 70 Handicap (2400 m) Dashing Saveel from a good draw worked positively from the jump and rider Christian Reith settled him two pairs back of the rail and had a lovely trail in the race.

Once coming through the 600 m Reith gave the Savabeel gelding plenty of rein and went for home, turning the final stages of the race into a true staying test and took the sprint out of the favoured Needwood Lad who challenged late.

“He’s tough and really sticks to the job at hand and my instructions today were to make it a staying test and that’s what the back half of the race was,”

“He still feels that he has some strengthening up to do which will have him continue to be competitive into future preparations.” Reith commented.

O’Shea said that Dashing Saveel would head towards Royal Randwick on Melbourne Cup in the 2600 m staying event.

 

O’Shea believes stablemate Ambers Waltz can be a major player in the 3YO Fillies feature.

“It is amazing how much the Sydney horses improve between their first and second runs in Melbourne,”

“Solar Charged proved exactly that on the weekend, she got totally lost at Moonee Valley and it was for all too see on Saturday at Caulfield where she was a different horse.” O’Shea said.

“I think it will be the same for Ambers Waltz as she has had the experience of a run around the other day at Flemington.”

Ambers Waltz drew the extreme outside in the Edward Manifold Stakes and never looked to threaten the race.

Big race rider Glen Boss retains the ride and O’Shea is confident it will be a career best run from Ambers Waltz.

“As long as she can draw okay we will leave the rest to him and that’s the reason he is on her, this filly's whole preparation has been based around this one race on Wednesday.” O’Shea added.    

MELBOURNE, Saturday 9 October, 2010 - Sydney filly Solar Charged destroyed rivals this afternoon in the Thoroughbred Club Stakes (GROUP 3) over 1200 m at Caulfield this afternoon.

After rewarding the faith of her conditioner John O’Shea in running out a strong 1200 m Solar Charged bolted in by over four lengths and a half lengths.

Aboard the flying Charge Forward filly was champion form hoop Nash Rawiller and he let the filly roll forward and take up her customary position gathering speed quickly and rolling across from an outside gate.

Rawiller took up the running and set a genuine clip that Rawiller increased from the 350 m and left her competitors ragged.

Solar Charged's performance was in stark contrast to her last start under lights when ninth in the Group Three Champagne Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley but O'Shea said she was never on her right leg that night.

"We knew we just had to get her on her right leg and get her happy in Melbourne and she has got happy and as a result has got on the right leg," O'Shea said.

"I was always confident she would run 1200 metres ridden the right way and she did it today."

Solar Charged has won three of her eight starts and O'Shea said the Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) at Flemington on Derby Day was more tempting than ever.

"We will give consideration to the options but obviously the opportunity to run in a Group One race on Derby Day has merit," O'Shea said.

Rawiller said Solar Charged travelled like a winner most of the race and was as fast as any filly in Sydney.

"She got into her rhythm today and let down well," Rawiller said.

"She is very fast and has a beautiful cruising speed."

Glintz with young apprentice Timothy Bell on board adopted his usual jump and lead them up tactics that has seen the Pins gelding string three consecutive wins together this preparation.

Being made to work hard early Glintz got his way to the front and was let free roll along and lead out by six lengths mid race.

Bell slackened the tempo before the 800 m and nursed Glintz around the turn before, staying off the rail and balancing to win comfortably by a length.

“It’s another good effort today by horse and rider and although he is racing well he does need to improve his manners pre race,”

“It’s great for the Piper family who own him and stringing wins together like this horse has and the manner in which he has done it is always very good.” O’Shea said.

“Although a four year old he still lacks a little bit of maturity this horse so there still may be some improvement later on.”

Freyberg was ridden aggressively from the jump and jockey Blake Shinn carried out O’Shea’s specific instructions in allowing the colt to have galloping room and not to be trapped back on the fence.

The Waikato Stud bred and owned Pins colt travelled two pairs back off the speed and made a sustained run four deep from the point of the turn and once balanced up, up the running he dispatched of rivals and was strong through the line two lengths clear.

“He’s a lovely colt and was simply too good for them today, once he gets over a bit further he will make a very nice horse and John will have him measure in much better races.” Commented rider Blake Shinn.

Randwick conditioner O’Shea was happy in the fact the Freyberg is now on the board and he can plot the colts progression.

“Whether or not what we have in mind for him in the coming weeks will come a bit soon, he will tell us that.” O’Shea said.

“I have always had a good bit of time for him and my gut feeling is he is a preparation away,”

“He will be a magnificent colt to get ready for the Autumn 3YO races over a mile and a mile and a quarter.” O’Shea added.

Zabrasive worked stylishly and had the better of his Group 1 Sydney Cup winning stablemate Jessicabeel, who will also contest Sunday's group 1 race.

O'Shea will start Argentine import Snapy Halo in Saturday's Epsom Handicap at Royal Randwick.

The trainer secured the services of his former champion apprentice Tim Clark for the ride on Snapy Halo and Clark has also been engaged for O’Shea other runner for the day Elite Falls.

RIGHT: Jessicabeel attacking the line in the Sydney Cup.

''He is open to improvement, put it that way,'' O'Shea said.

''It was the first time he has disappointed me since arriving from Argentina. He might have had excuses, he was second-up, he was on the fence but he did have a beautiful run in the race.''

O’Shea said of his juvenile filly Elite Falls being a strong chance in the Gimcrack Stakes with one slight hesitation.

“She is nice a filly, and done everything right post trial,”

“It just whether the trial surface for the 2yo’s throws up a bit of a form reversal as the trial conditions weren’t great and it appears as though we will get a good racing surface on Saturday, I’m really happy with her.”  

Jessicabeel had her first appearance on the Flemington course proper, as the Zabeel mare started her cups campaign in Sydney last month.

''She [Jessicabeel] got a touch of the Solar Chargeds and got on her wrong leg,'' O'Shea said in reference to his filly's disappointing performance at Moonee Valley last Friday.

''We've got a bit of work to do, it will be interesting to see how she goes under race conditions.''

“Obviously we were naturally disappointed when Smokin’ Gun was not in the finish the other day and now we just have to instill the confidence back in the horse,”

“He is in top order for tomorrow’s race which is a drop in grade and the 1900 m around Canterbury is ideal for where he is at in his preparation.” O’Shea said.

O’Shea also has young Encosta De Lago colt, Eravana also on tomorrow’s card with the colt doing all the right things to give the Randwick trainer confidence.

“This is a nice progression for Eravana, he was on debut at Kembla and was in dire need of the run,”

“He come’s forward with a better level of fitness about him and I thought he has drawn ideally where he can come across and sit outside the lead.” O’Shea explained.

It was a straight forward exercise when the John O’Shea trained galloper went straight to the front from the outset and simply improved his position in the run to have the field all struggling to catch him at the point of the turn.

It was an arm chair ride for apprentice Timothy Bell who once balanced up, Glintz was full off running and eased down on the line six lengths clear.

“Glintz is a lightly raced horse that we have been very patient with as he is really only starting to mature physically.” O’Shea said.
”He has always shown us a good level of ability at home and his first up performance was very good which boded well for today,”

“He had improved coming into today’s event and needed today’s outing again so it is encouraging going forward.”

MELBOURNE, Thursday 23 September, 2010 - The John O’Shea stable expects classy filly Solar Charged to make a winning Melbourne debut in Friday night’s Group III Champagne Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley.

Solar Charged has run second placings this preparation in the Group III San Domenico and Silver Shadow Stakes before heading to Melbourne late last week to contest fillies’ sprint races during the spring carnival.

O'Shea says the daughter of Charge Forward has settled in well to her Flemington base and meets a very competitve line up on Friday night.

“It's a strong field of fillies as to be expected but we are happy with where she is,” O'Shea added.

“She’s been working good but has really settled in well in Melbourne and she is going as well as we could have hoped.”

Heys said Solar Charged lost condition during the float trip from Sydney to Melbourne but quickly returned to her racing weight in the time she has been in Victoria.

“She is a finicky filly,” Heys said. “She has got a fair appetite; she’s looking well and has got her weight back on that she lost on the float trip.

“She’s shown the 1200 metres won’t be a problem and she will run well on Friday night.”

Super hoop Nash Rawiller will ride the flying three-year-old on Friday night.

Meanwhile, O’Shea’s other spring contenders, Cups hopeful Jessicabeel and Thousand Guineas aspirant Amber’s Waltz arrived in Melbourne on Tuesday.

Both will run at Saturday week’s Flemington meeting. Jessicabeel will run in the Group I Turnbull Stakes (2000m) while Amber’s Waltz will tackle the Group II Manifold Stakes.

O’Shea has first starter Duke Of Cornwall who although drawing poorly, is still likely to run.

“Duke Of Cornwall is a nice young horse that we have given his due time and has trialled nicely heading into tomorrow.”
”He’s got to start somewhere and it is a nice starting point for him and needs the day out,”

“As we are in the swing of the Spring there are a lot of talented young horses forming the strength of Metropolitan racing at the moment.”

“Duke Of Cornwall will simply need luck in running, I am very happy with how he his going and look forward to getting him under way.”

In the staying event Dashing Saveel will line up for O’Shea.

“He is very fit and well, he will be put into the race and make sure it is a true run staying test, although it will be his first crack at the distance, he will lap the trip right up.”

O’Shea said Dashing Saveel needs to be in the firing line tomorrow and is convinced that he will be to maintain his progression.

Tough and resilient Legsman will have his toughest test to date when he aims up in the Newcastle Gold Cup (Group 3) over 2300 m on Thursday.

“I couldn’t be happier with Legsman and he is really going to lap up the trip and he’s in career best order,”

“It is far from ideal drawing the carpark as we have, but we will leave that in Corey’s capable hands to negotiate as kinder run as possible in transit.”

“Legsman is fit and well and at first glance it appears that from the outside gate we won’t be as far forward as we usually are in our normal racing pattern.”

“He doesn’t know how to run a bad race and despite the barrier he is where he needs to be to give the race an almighty shake on Thursday.” O’Shea added.

O’Shea will have lightly raced mare Garnet Rose on the first day (Wednesday) and she looks ideally placed in the Fillies & Mares Class 1 Handicap (1200 m).

“Garnet Rose we have been very patient with and she has always lacked that bit of maturity but hopefully now we will see her race herself into better races,”

“She is vulnerable first up as she is a bit soft, and drawn extremely poorly, the first day can favour horses handy to the speed.”

SYDNEY, Thursday 2 September, 2010 - The Tramway Handicap is expected to be short of Jessicabeel's best but trainer John O'Shea believes she has returned in great order for her Melbourne Cup preparation.

The five-year-old Zabeel mare resumes in Saturday's Group Three event over 1400m at Randwick in her first start since becoming a Group One winner of the Sydney Cup (3200m) in April.

Jessicabeel will be joined in the Tramway by stablemate Snapy Halo, who hasn't raced since his sixth in the Doncaster Mile.

O'Shea said all the indications were that Jessicabeel had returned an improved mare this time in work.

"We haven't seen the barriers or the way the track is playing and all that sort of thing yet, but on a fair track I expect her to be hitting the line strongly on Saturday," O'Shea said.

"I just expect her to run well because I couldn't be happier with her."

Jessicabeel really came of age as a stayer in the autumn.

After finishing ninth first-up in a 1400m race at Rosehill she then ran third in both the Listed Aspiration Quality (1600m) and Epona Stakes (1900m) before winning the Group Two Chairman's Handicap (2600m) and Group One Sydney Cup (3200m).

"The form around her is good and she's made good improvement as you would expect from a five-year-old Zabeel mare," O'Shea said.

"She's continued an upward spiral and she's a bigger and stronger mare."

Jessicabeel was given 52.5kg for the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups when weights were released on Wednesday while stablemate Zabrasive was given 53kg.

"That's exactly what we expected," O'Shea said.

"Jessicabeel carried 52 kilos in the Sydney Cup when she was probably entitled to carry 48 with what she'd done. She was dominant in good time and 52.5 is a weight where we're still going to be competitive."

Snapy Halo's sixth in the Group One Doncaster Mile showed the six-year-old entire had the capability to be competitive in good races again this spring with O'Shea looking at some of the feature 1600m races as possible targets.

"He has run sixth in a very, very strong Doncaster, beaten just over two and a half lengths and that itself is going to have him in the mix (in some good races)," O'Shea said.

The trainer said Snapy Halo was still "pretty burly" and would improve with racing under his belt heading towards races like the Epsom Handicap in Sydney or Toorak Handicap in Melbourne.

Once let gallop out in the lead Kerilla got into a nice rhythm and appreciated the tactic when approaching the turn she had her opposition all in trouble.

Working up the run home she stuck to the rail and fought doggedly to the line to hold on and gain a most satisfied victory.

“This is a nice result for Simon & Terry from OTI and the mare has come along way since joining us and she is now a Metropolitan winner,” O’Shea mentioned.

O’Shea also had two close second placing with Smokin’ Gun earlier in the day and Not A Snip A Doubt just nosed out in the final race on the card.

“I think the mile will suit and the fact that she will roll forward with 2kg off her back will really stand in good stead for when the whips are cracking, it’s the happiest I have been with her.”

The ever consistent Not A Snip A Doubt will give a great sight in the Benchmark 70 Handicap over 1100 m and champion hoop Corey Brown has been engaged to ride.

“Well, Not A Snip A Doubt is probably our strongest chance tomorrow he is going particularly well and on paper it appears to be a race with ample speed which will suit him,”

“He will be attacking the line late, he does go up in weight but a senior rider and how happy we are with of his overall well being we expect him to be extremely competitive.”

Kiwi import by sire of the moment High Chaparral, Smokin’ Gun has his second start under O’Shea’s charge and O’Shea said he is likely to run a cheeky race over 1600 m.

“I thought Smokin’ Gun gets in well at the weights and its race to see where we are at with him but he has come on tremendously since his first up effort and although it is a trip which will be short of his best he goes into the race in great order,”

“He is probably just one run off when we see him coming into his own.” O’Shea added.

The impressive last start winner who has put two on the bounce together now is Private Label who looks to be an improving type.

“Corey has done a bit of work with this horse and he is going really well, he will need to use his gate speed from the 2 alley just so he doesn’t get shuffled back on the fence but we will leave that in Corey’s capable hands.”

“The horse is working very strongly and ticks a lot of boxes to run well tomorrow, fit, healthy and he has a good blood profile.” O’Shea commented.

O’Shea will have a big team of runners over Wyong’s big two days on Thursday and Friday and also at headquarters on Saturday with the return of Sydney Cup winner Jessicabeel highlighting his big team at Randwick.

Trainer John O’Shea was happy enough with the Group 1 winning Zabeel geldings effort.

“He had to kick off some where and that was his first go at weight for age against the best gallopers in the land,”

“It was a nice pipe opener for him and he was simply out sprinted, going forward we are very happy with where he is at, he has pulled up in good order and will continue onto the Underwood now and take significant improvement from yesterday.” O’Shea explained.

Rider Craig Newitt said it was a very good starting point for Zabrasive.

“He gave me a super feel and had no issue in getting around Caulfield, once I gave him a bum to follow he travelled beautifully,” Newitt said.

“It was his first go at weight for age and as we start getting over a trip he will be there when it counts, John has him in great order going forward.”
Zabrasive will now go back to Caulfield and run second up in the Group 1 WFA Underwood Stakes over 1800 m, Saturday 18^th September.

The start of this road will be this Saturday at Caulfield in the Memsie Stakes (1400 m) with Group 1 Rosehill Guineas winner Zabrasive commencing his Spring campaign.

“Zabrasive has settled into our Flemington base really well and gained some weight and is nice and fresh,”

“He goes into Saturday off only the one trial and has fair bit more to come, and it’s obviously a distance far short of what he is most effective at, in what looks a super field of gallopers.”  O’Shea commented.

“She is well and is very big in condition but the racing will bring her on and as she gets over more ground her ability to attack the line in the manner in which she does will come to the fore in the latter part of her preparation.” O’Shea offered.

At Rosehill Gardens O’Shea will saddle two competitive chances in Music Review and the ever improving Legsman.

“Music Review is right in Saturday’s race her best performances have arguably been second up at a mile and on Saturday she is second up off a break over 1800 m, so that in itself reads well.”

“She’s trained on in great order.”

“Legsman had a case to win the race the other day, however he gets his chance tomorrow as it does look a nice race for him and he is getting to 2000 m which he will appreciate.”

St Augustine has failed to deliver in his first two outings this preparation from his early promise and what his form showed.