Shamus Award has added an autumn Group One to his spring Cox Plate triumph with an all-the-way Australian Guineas win at Flemington.
The three-year-old matched his Cox Plate heroics after jockey Craig Williams took the colt to the front in Saturday’s $500,000 race.
Shamus Award ($4.50) shook off Eurozone to extend his advantage at the 200m and he put away his opposition to win by a length.
Sydney three-year-old Criterion ($11) ran on from midfield to take second with Thunder Fantasy ($15) a head away third.
A strong betting move for Hucklebuck was wide of the mark as the South Australian galloper finished unplaced after being shuffled out of contention on the home turn.
“He’s led all the way in a Cox Plate and now he’s led all the way in an Australian Guineas and that’s pretty hard to do,” winning trainer Danny O’Brien said.
“We’re really pleased to get this race on the board and now we’ve got a few more options to come.”
One possible choice for O’Brien is backing up Shamus Award against older horses in next week’s Australian Cup.
– AAP