Jockey Tim Clark is banking on Shooting To Win’s ‘fresh legs’ to help him get back into the winner’s circle in Saturday’s Group 1 $400,000 Schweppes All Aged Stakes (1400m) at Randwick.
Shooting To Win goes into the All Aged Stakes at Randwick with ‘Fresh Legs’, Photo by Race Horse Photos Australia.
Shooting To Win hasn’t raced for a month since pulling up with a sore back after finishing fifth to Real Impact in the Group 1 $1m George Ryder Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill on March 21.
The Northern Meteor colt has recovered from the slight setback and Clark said he felt good when second in a recent 1200m Warwick Farm barrier trial and the fact that he hasn’t raced for a month could prove to be an advantage this weekend.
“He’s coming in on reasonably fresh legs which could be a positive and I think 1400m is about his ideal trip,” Clark told the Sportsman.
“I was happy with his trial and his piece of work on Tuesday.”
“He is generally pretty sharp worker and Tuesday was no different to that and he pulled up really well after it.”
Co-trainers Peter and Paul Snowden have put the blinkers back on Shooting The Win after taking them off before the George Ryder Stakes after wearing them to victory in the Group 1 $1m BECK Caulfield Guineas (1600m) at Caulfield during the 2014 Melbourne Spring Carnival.
Although Shooting to Win has been beaten as favourite at his three runs this campaign, Clark still regards his form as being okay.
Shooting To Win finished behind Hallowed Crown twice when fourth in the Group 2 $200,000 Blackwoods CRC Hobartville Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill on February 21 and when third in the Group 1 $600,000 Girvan Waugh Randwick Guineas (1600m) at Randwick on March 7 before his George Ryder Stakes defeat.
“Although he hasn’t been winning his form has been really good against top quality horses,” Clark said.
“He looked the winner first up but at 1400m, he probably knocked up a little bit, second up he was beaten under a length in a Group 1 and then he finished alongside Kermadec in the George Ryder.”
“It’s going to be no easy task and he is going to need to be putting in nearly a career best performance.”
“But he has the ability to match them, that’s for sure and he has drawn a nice barrier which makes it easier too.”
Clark is no stranger to riding Shooting To Win and from three rides in the Spring was placed twice before the pair combined to win the Group 2 $200,000 Stan Fox Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill.
His other two rides on the three year old resulted in a second to Panzer Division in the Group 3 $125,000 Ming Dynasty Quality Handicap (1400m) at Randwick and a third to Hallowed Crown in the Group 1 $1m De Bortoli Wines Golden Rose Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill.
James McDonald was handed the ride in the Caulfield Guineas while Blake Shinn has been aboard all three starts to date during his Autumn Carnival campaign.
McDonald rides Generalife for John O’Shea in the All Aged Stakes while Shinn is on the Gary Portelli trained Rebel Dane.
All Aged Stakes market order at Ladbrokes.com.au: $3 Chautauqua, $5.50 Terravista, $6.50 Lucky Hussler, $8 Shooting To Win, Wandjina, $10 Dissident, $15 Scissor Kick, $21 Generalife, $26 Rebel Dane, $41 Laser Hawk, Fontelina, $51 Famous Seamus, $61 Weary.
