French import Athabascan chasing back-to-back wins

Posted by RS NewsWire at 3:32pm on September 21st

A resounding last-start win has put Athabascan on a Melbourne Cup path with trainer John O’Shea seeing no reason why the French import can’t go on with the job.

The five-year-old has been in Australia for less than a year and after a seasoning campaign in the autumn, which included a Canberra Cup placing behind subsequent Group 1 winner Arapaho, the horse appears to have hit his stride.

Two solid efforts over shorter journeys laid the platform for his City Tattersall’s Club Cup (2400m) victory and O’Shea expects him to prove it was no fluke when he steps out over the same distance in the Colin Stephen Quality at Rosehill.

“He has trained on lovely and there’s no reason he wouldn’t run well on Saturday,” O’Shea said.

While Athabascan holds a nomination for the Metropolitan (2400m) seven days later, he is unlikely to back-up in the staying feature.

O’Shea is instead keen to head south to tackle some of the Cup lead-up races in a bid to secure a start on the first Tuesday in November.

“He’s going to Flemington to The Bart Cummings,” O’Shea said.

“I think he is a genuine two-miler, so we’ll give him a chance (to get to the Melbourne Cup).”

O’Shea will be double handed in the Shannon Stakes (1500m) where he has Kirwin’s Lane and the resuming Lion’s Roar.

Lion’s Roar usually improves with racing and as a Wagga Cup runner-up, he is being aimed towards either the Big Dance or Little Dance at Randwick on Melbourne Cup day.

Epsom Handicap hopeful Kirwan’s Lane showed he had returned in good order when finishing midfield and less than three lengths from Golden Mile first-up in the Theo Marks Stakes and profiles nicely for the Shannon, provided he can overcome his 59kg topweight.

“I think Kirwan’s will run well, it’s just his capacity to lump the weight,” O’Shea said.

“He is going to get a good, economical run and he loves the 1500 at Rosehill.

“Lion’s Roar is in good form, but he always needs a run or two.”

More Racing News

Vein Girl impresses in rich Magic Millions The Debut win

Vein Girl has put herself in contention for next month’s $3 million Magic Millions 2YO Classic with a strong win on debut under lights at the Gold Coast’s first night meeting. The Chris and Corey Munce-trained Vein Girl was sent out the $3.50 favourite with betting sites in Friday night’s $250,000...

Dec 21st

Pallaton races into 2025 Golden Slipper contention

Pallaton has stamped himself as a two-year-old colt to watch heading into 2025 with an impressive debut win at Randwick. Trained by Michael Freedman and ridden by Tommy Berry, Pallaton raced to a 2-3/4-length victory in Saturday’s Shinzo @ Coolmore Plate (1000m) and firmed to be among the early favourites in Golden Slipper...

Dec 21st

Arriving Home set to target the Magic Millions Guineas 2025

Trainer Bjorn Baker would love to get lightly raced filly Arriving Home into the Magic Millions Guineas next month after the three-year-old remained unbeaten with a tough win at Randwick. Stepping up from a midweek city maiden win at Warwick Farm on debut earlier this month into Saturday’s Petaluma Handicap (1300m) – a...

Dec 21st

The Kings horse Gilded Water wins at Randwick

Imported stayer Gilded Water has made it back-to-back victories in Australia and has given his owner, His Majesty King Charles III, a winner at Royal Randwick. The King’s racing manager John Warren was on track at Randwick on Saturday as the Ciaron Maher-trained Gilded Water raced to a convincing victory in the...

Dec 21st

Goldman digs deep in the Pakenham Cup 2024

One time Melbourne Cup favourite, Goldman has notched up his fourth win in Australia, leading throughout to take the Listed Pakenham Cup (2500m) under Beau Mertens. Jumping an $8.50 chance, Goldman’s staying prowess was on show as he kicked back to deny Grand Pierro ($19) by a long head, with $3.30 betting site...

Dec 21st

Here To Shock gives Lindsay Park quinella in The Supernova

Ben, Will & Jd Hayes had the numbers two and three seed to knock off race-favourite Nadal in Saturday’s $1 million The Supernova (1400m) at Pakenham and did just that, with Here To Shock, ridden by Daniel Stackhouse, edging stablemate Arkansaw Kid in a thrilling stable quinella. Here To Shock ($4.60) trailed a strong...

Dec 21st

Kevin Daffy happy to wait with Oh Too Good ahead of VOBIS Gold Bullion

Trainer Kevin Daffy says there is still plenty of time to chase the big league with his lightly-raced mare Oh Too Good. A winner of four of her seven starts with three runner-up finishes as well, Oh Too Hard runs in the VOBIS Gold Bullion (1400m) at Pakenham on Saturday. Daffy was sounded...

Dec 20th

Bedggood chases rich The Supernova prize

Two rising nine-year-olds, both resuming, will give Gavin Bedggood a potential shot at his biggest payday as a trainer. A former jockey, Bedggood has been plying his trade as a trainer since 2017 and during the recent Melbourne Spring Carnival prepared Mornington Glory to land his first Group 1 success. Just Folk and Windstorm, both...

Dec 20th

Collett hoping for Dream Brisbane raid in BJ McLachlan Stakes and Magic Millions Falvelon

A pair of promising two-year-olds from the Ciaron Maher stable have lured top Sydney hoop Jason Collett to Queensland for back-to-back meetings this weekend. Collett is heading north to partner filly Life After Love in the $250,000 Magic Millions The Debut (1000m) at the Gold Coast on Friday night and her Maher-trained stablemate...

Dec 20th

Theodore aims to keep strike-rate going in Christmas Cup at Murray Bridge

Trainer Stephen Theodore is looking to Divine Fire keeping his impressive strike-rate going when she shoots for a winning hat-trick on Saturday. After victories at Morphettville and Gawler, Divine Fire runs in the Christmas Cup (1600m) at Murray Bridge with Jacob Opperman in the saddle. Since returning to training ranks at the start of...

Dec 20th