Hyland aiming for the stars with Shanghai Warrior

Trainer Pat Hyland might be aiming for the stars when he suggested that Saturday’s Flemington winner Shanghai Warrior might be a Cox Plate contender, but it doesn’t cost anything to dream.

Hyland has a very high opinion of Shanghai Warrior who scored a comfortable second up win for Glen Boss in the 1100m Bob Skilton 3yo Handicap and is keen to find out if the three year old can run 2000m.

“He’ll run a mile alright, maybe more,” Hyland said.

“And if he can run 2000m, there’s a good race at Moonee Valley for him.”

“It will be the end of a program anyway.”

“He’s a pretty promising horse. He had that race won when Bossy let him stride about 300 from home, there was no way they were going to beat him then.”

The Group 1 $3m Sportingbet Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley on October 27 has already created a lot of interest with the unbeaten filly Atlantic Jewel heading up the early markets at $3.20 ahead of the Gai Waterhouse trained super mare More Joyous at $6.

Shanghai Warrior isn’t in the mix yet for the Cox Plate but Hyland will push on into the Spring and give the Elvstroem colt every opportunity to reach his potential.

Jockey Glen Boss agreed with Hyland that the three year old had loads of potential and would be very effective up 1600m and there could be race in the Spring for him but stopped short of saying he was up to a Cox Plate berth.

“He’s going to be very strong at seven furlongs and maybe a mile,” Boss said.

“But that’s his limit if you ask me.”

“Pat told me had a very good horse before I rode him and he was right.”

“That was a terrific win, there’s bound to be a race for him in the spring.”

Hyland said that Shanghai Warrior needed the run first up when third as favourite to Baron Douro over 1200m at Flemington on July 7 and knew he would be much fitter last Saturday.

“He’s always shown well above average ability – well above average,” Hyland said.

“When he ran first-up the other day he was more underdone than I thought, but today he was much better.”

Saturday’s win was Shanghai Warrior’s fourth from eight starts with Boss settling the three year old midfield before making his move at the 300m and hitting the line hard for a dominant win indicating that more wins are install.

Shanghai Warrior wrapped up a race to race double for Boss who was successful in the previous race on the Aaron Purcell trained Streaky Fella who made it two wins from his last three starts.

About The Author

Mark Mazzaglia

Mark is a passionate journalist with a life-time involvement in the racing industry. He spent many years as an analyst and form expert at the Courier Mail and also has hands-on experience working with some of Queensland’s top trainers.