John O’Shea is emphatic he could be training a future star in unbeaten Sarajevo when he takes over at Darley.
He is also just as certain he may be saying goodbye to two horses who are packed with the same amount of potential.
The odds are against O’Shea making a winning farewell from Randwick on Saturday with his two runners – Dublin Lass and Tenacitus – at double-figure quotes in their respective races.
But as he counts down to his first day as the trainer in charge of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s Australian racing operation, O’Shea has much to look forward to.
Sarajevo left a huge impression with his first-up win at Randwick on Monday and the colt has already been identified as a spring prospect.
“I think he’s got a very, very good race in him come the spring carnival,” O’Shea said.
The same could be said for two young horses who have been given time to furnish under O’Shea’s care.
“There’s two there I would like to take with me – Veloce Forte and an unraced two-year-old called Shooting To Win,” he said.
Both will be trained by Peter and Paul Snowden who are leaving Darley to become public trainers.
Veloce Forte is a filly bred on staying lines who was spelled after winning her only start at Kembla Grange in March.
Shooting To Win had his first public hit-out with a winning Randwick barrier trial on Tuesday and it seems he is another Northern Meteor colt blessed with an abundance of talent.
Of O’Shea’s two runners on the final day of the Sydney autumn carnival, Tenacitus has attracted specking in the Japan Racing Association Plate, firming from $51 to $21 after gaining a start because of a scratching.
– AAP