It was set to be the race of the 2015 Spring Racing Carnival, but trainer John O’Shea has revealed that Exosphere may not face Chautauqua in the 2015 Darley Classic at Flemington on November 6.
Exosphere will start the 2015 Coolmore Stud Stakes as a dominant favourite. Photo by: Steve Hart
Exosphere is currently a dominant favourite to record his fourth straight win in the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) at Flemington on Saturday and he was expected to take on the older horses a week later, but O’Shea told Racing.com that he is not overly keen to see his star sprinter take on Chautauqua in the Darley Classic.
“I think he (Chautauqua) is the best sprinter in the country by a furlong and he showed it on Friday night,” O’Shea said.
“I don’t think it (taking on Chautauqua) is something that we need to rush into doing to be honest.
“We’ve got a three-year-old colt who is a valuable stud prospect and getting a punch on the nose from the best sprinter in the country isn’t going to do anyone any good.
“I’ve got a responsibility to look after him and he’s probably only got four runs left in his career so I’ve got to be mindful of that.
“We’re not making any call on anything until we get through the Coolmore.”
Exosphere showed that he was a horse with plenty of talent when he took out the Group 2 Skyline Stakes (1200m) at Warwick Farm on February 28, but he has gone to another level during the 2015 Spring Racing Carnival and stamped himself as the best three-year-old in the country.
The Lonhro colt returned to racing with a fast-finishing victory in the Group 2 Run To The Rose (1200m) at Rosehill Gardens on August 29 and he proved that win was no fluke when he romped home in the Group 1 Golden Rose Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill Gardens on September 12.
O’Shea elected against sending Exosphere to Melbourne for the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m) and he was instead freshened up for the Group 2 Roman Consul Stakes (1200m) where he recorded yet another dominant victory to justify his short-priced favouritism in Coolmore Stud Stakes betting markets.
Chautauqua is currently available at 2015 Darley Classic odds of $2 with Ladbrokes and he is a clear favourite from Exosphere ($2.70), Srikandi ($9), Terravista ($11), Boban ($15), Buffering ($15), Lumosty ($15) and Rebel Dane ($15).
You can score the best odds for the Coolmore Stud Stakes and every other race this weekend with Ladbrokes, who are offering Best Tote or Starting Price +20% on every single race at Flemington on Saturday.
