Trainer John O’Shea is hoping that Savvy Nature can step-up to the plate in the 2014 Rosehill Guineas at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.
Savvy Nature is chasing his first race win since he took out the Mitchelton Wines Vase at Moonee Valley during the 2013 Spring Racing Carnival. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia
Savvy Nature started his 2014 Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival campaign with an impressive third in the Group 2 Hobartville Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill Gardens on March 1, but was slightly disappointing when seventh in the Group 1 Randwick Guineas (1600m) on March 15.
O’Shea told TVN that Savvy Nature had trained on strongly following the Randwick Guineas, but admits that the son of Savabeel will have to produce a much improved effort to be a winning chance in the Rosehill Guineas this weekend.
“The horse is in good order,” O’Shea said.
“He has made good progression from Randwick, he has a good record at 2000 metres and he seems to run well at Rosehill Gardens.
“His first-up run was excellent, but his second-up run was only so-so; he probably just got a past mark.
“We need to star stepping up to the plate and hopefully that will start in the Rosehill Guineas.
“The indicators are there that he has improved, but he needs to on the strength of his Randwick Guineas run.”
O’Shea will have two opportunities to score his first Group 1 win in Sydney since 2010 this weekend; with Kencella set to make his debut at the highest level of racing in The Galaxy (1100m).
Kencella scored a most impressive win in the Group 3 McCarten Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill Gardens on March 22 and O’Shea said that the son of Exceed And Excel had come out of the race in excellent condition and deserved an opportunity at Group 1 level.
“I just wanted to see how he pulled up,” O’Shea said.
“He put on a little bit of weight from the run and was bouncing off the walls.
“He gets a chance to run in the Group 1 on the minimum and track and distance he has three starts from three runs, so we will take the opportunity to run him.
“He has tightened up nicely and the blow-up has probably bought him on even more.”
Savvy Nature is currently available at odds of $15 in 2014 Rosehill Guineas betting markets, while Kencella is priced at The Galaxy odds of $6.50.
