Shamus Award is in the “same order” as he was last spring according to Craig Williams.
As Shamus Award bids to become the first colt to complete the Cox Plate-Australian Guineas double, Williams said he could not be happier heading into the Group 1 feature at Flemington.
Williams described as “excellent” the work of Shamus Awardat Moonee Valley last Friday night and noted the colt had come through the work well.
“I sat on him on Wednesday on the middle of the track on the course proper and he was quite relaxed and very smooth in his action,” Williams said.
“He feels he’s in the same order that he was in the spring and that gives me great confidence.
“I’m happy with the way he’s doing his work and his attitude. He knows that he’s good and he shows that in his character.”
Williams viewed the $500,000 Group 1 as a “very competitive” race that had assembled a quality bunch of horses, far superior to last year.
Shamus Award is coming off a first-up third behind Moment Of Change in the CF Orr Stakes where Williams noted the speed was “brutal”.
The Danny O’Brien-trained colt was forced to do all the chasing and the effort took its toll over the concluding stages.
Williams said how the track races and the early tactics will be pivotal to determining the Guineas winner.
Shamus Award is a $5.50 third favorite after $7 was bet with Hucklebuck as the easing $4 favorite.
– Racing Network
