O’Shea’s Zou Tiger pounces to land Carrington Stakes
In a masterful training performance, John O’Shea has nursed dual Group 1 placegetter Zou Tiger back from two bouts of surgery to produce him for an emphatic win in the Listed Carrington Stakes at Randwick.
A high-class three-year-old, Zou Tiger placed in the 2022 Golden Rose and last year’s Randwick Guineas, but his only win prior to Saturday was in a Kensington maiden.
Adamant a breathing issue was hindering the horse from realising his potential, O’Shea sent Zou Tiger for a throat operation last year while also making the difficult decision to geld him.
He returned with a midfield effort in Listed grade at Canterbury on New Years’ Day but turned the corner with a fighting second to Rubamos last start.
Zou Tiger ($5.50) improved off that again to make a one-act affair of the Carrington Stakes (1400m), spearing to the front halfway up the straight and cruising to a 2-1/2 length win over topweight Tamerlane ($7) with leader Felix Majestic ($4.80 fav) holding third, another three-quarters of a length away.
“It was an issue that was holding him back as a colt,” O’Shea said of Zou Tiger’s throat complaint.
“He just wasn’t finishing his mile races off. He was probably compromised by a bit of wind.
“He has taken a little while to get fit.
“He obviously did a good job second-up and then bounced off that so we were optimistic he could give a good account of himself.”
Zou Tiger was ridden to victory by last season’s champion apprentice Zac Lloyd, who said he was confident the horse would be hard to hold out once he got into a good spot in the slipstream of the leader.
“He just needed those couple of runs under his belt and he was back today,” Lloyd said.
“He was able to get into a lovely rhythm and because he’s such a big horse, when he gets into that rhythm he is very hard to beat.”
O’Shea, who was in New Zealand to attend the Karaka sales, said he was unsure of immediate plans for Zou Tiger as he had wanted to see how he performed on Saturday before shoring up a program.
Meanwhile, Bandi’s Boy ($9.50) indicated he was on track for his Country Championships goal with a first-up win in the Precise Air Handicap (1200m).
The lightly raced four-year-old surprised trainer Danny Williams, who felt he would need the outing.
“We weren’t over-confident, the horse’s trackwork suggested he’s not quite there yet,” Williams said.
“We planned after his last preparation to give him three starts prior to the Country Championship qualifier and he’s never won first-up, he always needs a run first-up.”
Winning jockey Jay Ford said if Bandi’s Boy could continue to hone his racing manners, his future was bright.
“He lacks race craft, he’s inexperienced but he’s got a motor,” Ford said.
“He should continue to improve as he gets more experience.”
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...