Preferment can retire a winner with P J O’Shea Stakes victory

Four times Group 1 winner Preferment has plenty of pluses to help him retire with a win in the Group 2 $200,000 Pages Event Equipment Hire P J O’Shea Stakes (2200m) at Doomben on Saturday.

Trainer Chris Waller is hoping Preferment, above, can retire on a winning note in the P J O'Shea Stakes at Doomben. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.

Trainer Chris Waller is hoping Preferment, above, can retire on a winning note in the P J O’Shea Stakes at Doomben. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.

Trainer Chris Waller has confirmed that Preferment is destined to start stud duties after he faces the starter for the final time on Saturday and the champion trainer said he will be offering no excuses if the five year old stallion gets beaten.

“If he is anywhere near his best form he will beat them,” Waller said.

“He hasn’t won for a long time but we have been through all the necessary checks.”

“He has been working well. A good track, a good jockey, good draw in a small field, no excuses,

“Let’s hope that he goes to the stallion barn on a winning note.”

Preferment will get his chance to find the winner’s circle for the first time since collecting the trophy in the Group 1 $1.5m The BMW (2400m) at Rosehill during the 2016 Sydney Autumn Carnival.

Hugh Bowman takes the ride in the P J O’Shea Stakes after the pair combined for a last start fourth to It’s Somewhat in the Group 2 $358,000 Attwood Marshall A.D. Hollindale Stakes (1800m) at the Gold Coast on May 6.

Preferment will get his preferred good track rating at Doomben on Saturday and will jump from barrier two in the small six horse field.

The first of Preferment’s four Group 1 victories came in his three year old season when he won the $1.5m AAMI Victoria Derby (2500m) at Flemington during the 2014 Melbourne Spring Carnival.

Then as a four year old the son of Zabeel won the Group 1 $500,000 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington during the 2015 Spring Carnival before collecting back to back Group 1 wins during the 2016 Autumn Carnival in the $1m Australian Cup (2000m) at Flemington and in the  $1.5m The BMW .

Betting at Ladbrokes.com.au for the P J O’Shea Stakes has Preferment as the second favourite at $3.60 behind Group 1 winning mare Single Gaze at $3 while the Darren Weir trained High Church is well in commission at $3.70.

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.