Trainer John O’Shea has revealed that he is leaning towards running progressive sprinter Kencella in the 2014 The Galaxy at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.
Kencella led all the way to score his maiden victory at Group level in the McCarten Stakes at Rosehill Gardens last Saturday. Photo by: Steve Hart
Kencella stamped himself as sprinter to watch with an impressive front-running victory in the Group 3 McCarten Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill Gardens last weekend and O’Shea is set to give the Exceed And Excel gelding an opportunity at Group 1 level after he pulled up from the win in excellent condition.
“He seems to have come through the run well,” O’Shea told TVN this morning.
“It might not have been our plan all along but he is unbeaten at the track and distance and I feel he is nicely weighted in the race.”
Kencella made his racing debut with a five lengths victory in the Primo Meats Handicap (1000m) at Goulburn in March last year and has put together an impressive record of six wins from nine career starts.
The four-year-old has recorded race wins at Goulburn, Wyong and Warwick Farm, but has become somewhat of a specialist over the 1100 metres trip at Rosehill Gardens.
Kencella made his debut at Rosehill Gardens with a narrow win over Dream Choice and Cosmic Cameo in a Benchmark 75 Handicap on January 4 and returned to the race a month late to take out a Benchmark 85 Handicap by a comfortable two lengths on February 1 before recording his third win the track and distance in the McCarten Stakes.
Defending champion Bel Sprinter has been allocated the top-weight of 58 kilograms for the 2014 The Galaxy, while Kencella is down on the limit weight of 52 kilograms along with last start winner Anatina, talented colt Fast ‘N’ Rocking, New Zealand-trained Irish Fling and Magic Millions Sprint winner Whittington.
Veteran sprinter Famous Seamus and Black Caviar Lightning Handicap winner Snitzerland will carry 56.5 kilograms, while Joseph Pride-trained Rain Affair and Darley sprinter Sessions have been allocated 56 kilograms by Racing New South Wales Handicappers.
O’Shea is chasing his second victory in The Galaxy after her took out the 2005 edition of the race with Charge Forward and finished second, behind Magnus, with Fast ‘N’ Famous in 2007.
