She has barely put a hoof wrong since arriving on our shores and the John O’Shea-prepared import Promise Of Success has earned her shot at Group 1 glory at Rosehill Gardens this weekend.
After an unspectacular start to her career in the northern hemisphere, with just one third from four outings, the Dansili mare hasn’t missed a drum since landing at O’Shea’s Randwick operation with three wins and five placings from just eight local starts.
She has handled the step-up to black type company this campaign with aplomb with a second behind Snapdancer in the Group 3 Triscay Stakes, before another runner-up finish behind in-form mare Forbidden Love in the Group 2 Guy Walter Stakes. Forbidden Love has since franked that form with a dominant victory in the Group 1 Canterbury Stakes last weekend.
Whilst she is also nominated for the Group 2 Ajax Stakes this weekend, O’Shea would prefer to target the Group 1 Coolmore Classic under handicap conditions.
Speaking with SEN’s Andrew Bensley this morning, O’Shea believes the conditions of the $600,000 feature will suit his six-year-old mare.
“My preference is to run her in the Coolmore, she’s got a beautiful weight,” O’Shea said.
“She loves the ground and it’s a race that we sort of set her for this preparation. She’s got lovely form lines so we’re really keen to run her on Saturday.
“I’ve been so happy with the two lead-up runs, she’s a happy mare and the runs have been excellent.
“She didn’t have a lot of luck last start, I think the key for her is the Coolmore luckily enough for us is a handicap and she gets in with 51kg and Rachel (King) will ride her at the weight.”
With upwards of five horses nominated for Coolmore Classic day at Rosehill this Saturday, and with plenty of wet weather about, O’Shea confirmed that only two of his chargers will be taking part.
“At this stage we’ll just run Benaud and Promise Of Success and everyone else will find alternative venues,” O’Shea said.
As to his dual-Group 3 winning mare Minhaaj, she is another on a Group 1 path after finishing tenth in the Oakleigh Plate late last month.
“She’s bounced back beautifully, she did a bit of pace work this morning,” O’Shea said.
“William Pike will ride her in the Galaxy.”
Rosehill Gardens will play host to a ten-race card this Saturday with no less than seven Group races on the schedule.
