Warwick Stakes The Early Spring Target For It’s Somewhat

Trainer John O’Shea has revealed that the 2015 Warwick Stakes could be the early spring target for imported galloper It’s Somewhat.

It's Somewhat is likely to return to the races in the 2015 Warwick Stakes at Royal Randwick on August 22. Photo by: Steve Hart

It’s Somewhat is likely to return to the races in the 2015 Warwick Stakes at Royal Randwick on August 22. Photo by: Steve Hart

It’s Somewhat was purchased by Godolphin after he finished tenth behind Kingston Hill in the Group 1 Ladbrokes St Leger Stakes (2937m) at Doncaster on September 13 and he made his Australian racing debut with an impressive victory in the Group 3 Liverpool City Cup (1300m) at Warwick Farm on February 28.

The Dynaformer gelding was far from disgraced when ninth in the Group 1 George Ryder Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill Gardens on March 21, but O’Shea elected to scratch the four-year-old from the Group 1 Doncaster Mile (1600m) at Royal Randwick on April 6 in order to secure a start for Sweynesse – a decision that O’Shea now admits was a mistake.

It’s Somewhat is set to trial at Rosehill Gardens this weekend and O’Shea told Racing Ahead that he is keen to get the rising five-year-old ready for a crack at the Group 2 Warwick Stakes (1400m) at Royal Randwick on August 22 before he potentially returns to Group 1 level for the Epsom Handicap (1600m) at the same venue on October 3 or the Toorak Handicap (1600m) at Caulfield on October 10.

“I think that we will get him going early,” O’Shea said.

“He is an excellent horse at a mile or a mile and a quarter and he has strengthened really good.

“His run in the George Ryder was excellent and on reflection I probably erred by scratching him and running the colt in the Doncaster – I probably should have run him.

“He is a genuine Group 1 handicapper and whether he runs in the Epsom or comes down for the Toorak, I will just let that play out.

“He will be going up and early and it wouldn’t be out of the realm of possibility for him to win a race like the Warwick Stakes.”

It’s Somewhat only recorded two wins from his 13 race starts under the care of Mark Johnston in the United Kingdom, but he was placed in races like the Group 2 Superlative Stakes (1408m), Group 2 Royal Lodge Stakes (1609m) and Group 1 Coral Eclipse Stakes (2012m) behind the talented Mukhadram and Trading Leather.

O’Shea is chasing his first victory in the Warwick Stakes since he took out the 2008 edition of the race with Racing To Win.

About The Author

Thomas Hackett

Thomas is a passionate and opinionated racing journalist and punter who has been obsessed with horse racing since he backed Saintly to win the 1996 Melbourne Cup. An international racing enthusiast, he has his finger on the pulse of racing news not just from Australia but all around the world.