What a Victoria Derby day for the proud Queenslander John O’Shea. Training out of Randwick O’Shea saddles up the three-year-old classic favourite Savvy Nature while Kingdoms lays Melbourne Cup ambitions on the line in the Lexus Stakes.
“The staff are probably feeling the pressure a little bit,” O’Shea said on Friday.
“I feel the horses are ready to do their best and if that is good enough obviously it will be a great day.”
Savvy Nature confirmed derby credentials when rounding up rivals in effortless style under ace jockey James McDonald to win the Vase at Moonee Valley last Saturday.
“Pretty much since we bought him,” was O’Shea’s response when asked when the Victoria Derby became a genuine target.
“A horse we had a good opinion of all along. I’m very happy with him, set him for one race, he’ll be there on the day and the horse is in good order.”
Awaiting in the derby is Sydney slayer Complacent, from the all powerful Darley empire. Complacent had the wood on Savvy Nature in Sydney.
Savvy Nature, whose sire Savabeel finished runner-up in the Victoria Derby after winning the Cox Plate at three, had to settle for a third and second behind Complacent in the Gloaming and Spring Champion Stakes.
Both three-year-olds dominate derby discussions despite Complacent drawing the outside barrier of 16 and Savvy Nature 13.
The astute O’Shea delved into the trick-bag and fitted the blinkers to Savvy Nature and it had the desired impact at Moonee Valley last weekend.
“Off his pedigree blinkers were always going to be affective,” O’Shea said.
“We didn’t put them on until I thought necessary.
“I’d worked him in them the once and I thought he worked good. They’ve just made him focus a bit, he was a bit of a wayward big kid but he has thrived since last Saturday.”
The $1.5 million Group 1 has attracted a capacity field with all runners going to the 2500m for the first time.
“It has a long tail to it but the good horses are pretty good I think,” O’Shea said.
“Complacent is an exceptional horse but it will be interesting to see him do a little bit of work from that barrier.
“Previously he’d done little work from inside draws.”
O’Shea warns punters not to under-estimate the lightly raced four-year-old Kingdoms. At start number 11 Kingdoms won the City Tattersalls Club Cup at Randwick which booked the ticket for Melbourne.
“I think he has a wonderful chance,” O’Shea said in regard to the Lexus in which apart from Ethopia all other runners must win to be assured a Melbourne Cup start.
“The Tatt’s Cup has traditionally provided a good form line into Lexus. Go back to Grandmaster, Maluckyday, horses have even been beaten in a Tatt’s Cup and come down and won a Lexus.”
Don’t forget about O’Shea’s Steps In Time at Flemington while White Sage could start punters off on winning note in the opener at Rosehill.
“The blinkers go on Steps In Time, she has a good record third up, Nash Rawiller has good record on the horse and I can see her running some sought of race tomorrow,” O’Shea said.
“White Sage is quite a talented filly and hopefully she can keep her unbeaten record intact.”
By Craig Young
