The Spring Champion Stakes is the next assignment for Sweynesse who kept his unbeaten record intact with a convincing win in the Group 3 $200,000 Gloaming Stakes (1800m) at Rosehill today.
Sweynesse will head to the Spring Champion Stakes after winning the Gloaming Stakes at Rosehill. Photo by Steve Hart
The John O’Shea trained Sweynesse made it four wins from four starts when Kerrin McEvoy brought the Lonhro colt from last on the corner in the small field six to gather in the leaders and score by a length over Diamond Valores and Pounamu.
Sweynesse came to Rosehill after winning the Group 3 $125,000 Coca-Cola Spring Stakes (1600m) at Newcastle on September 17 and was sent out the equal favourite at $2.40 with Diamond Valores who was also well fancied in the betting.
Pounamu ($5) raced in the first half of the field and finished up in third spot, three and three quarter lengths away from the winner.
Winning trainer John O’Shea was impressed with the winning effort if Sweynesse and will now head to the Group 1 $400,000 Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) at Randwick on October 11 and O’Shea is also considering a start in the in the Group 1 $3m Sportingbet Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley on October 25.
“We dare to dream. The machinations of the Cox Plate look a bit different this year,” O’Shea said.
“A three-year-old with his staying ability and his formlines traditionally have been effective, and its an option for us, obviously we’ve got to get him home and make sure he pulls up well.
“If he pulls up well he’ll go to the Spring Champion and we will go from there.
“We haven’t gotten to the bottom of him.”
And if the three year old continues to improve the Group 1 $1.5m AAMI Victoria Derby (2500m) at Flemington on November 1 is also on the agenda.
“It was a nice improvement again today,” O’Shea said.
“He relaxes beautifully and it is a nice attribute for a young stayer.”
“The Spring Champion in a fortnight and we will reassess after that.
McEvoy announcd at the beginning of the week that he was going to ride freelance and relinquish his position as Godolphin’s number one rider.
But McEvoy said that he would still be available to ride for O’Shea and Godolphin but will miss the ride on Sweynesse in the Spring Champion Stakes because of his booking to ride the Gerald Ryan trained Rubick in Melbourne that day.
“Kerrin’s ridden for us before and he’s riding for me today and he will ride for us in the future and as far as I’m concerned nothing is changed,” O’Shea said.
