Autumn jockey discussions for Cox Plate champ

 

Flemington trainer Danny O’Brien will meet with part owner Viv Oldfield at the Magic Millions Carnival on the Gold Coast in the coming week to determine a jockey for Cox Plate winner Shamus Award for his 2014 Autumn Carnival campaign.

Shamus Awards created history by becoming the first maiden galloper to win the Group 1 $3m Sportingbet Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley last Spring with apprentice Chad Schofield claiming his first Group 1 victory with a well judged front running ride.

The lightweight Schofield gained the ride on the three year old because under the weight for scale the colt only had to carry 49.5kgs but has put himself in the running to maintain the association in the Autumn.

Craig Williams is also on the short list after claiming two runner’s up cheques for connections when he partnered the Snitzel colt to a second in the Listed $120,000 Essendon Nissan McKenzie Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on August 24 and a second in the Group 2 $220,000 City Jeep Stutt Stakes (1600m) at Moonee Valley on September 27.

While Glen Boss was aboard when the three year old finished third to Long John in the Group 1 $1m BECK Caulfield Guineas (1600m) at Caulfield on October 12.

“Obviously, Craig Williams and Chad Schofield are the front runners,” O’Brien told Racing Network.

“I’ll have a chat about it this week with Viv, I haven’t seen him since Shamus won the Cox Plate.”

The Group 1 $500,000 Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington on March 1 is Shamus Award’s first major goal in the Melbourne Autumn Carnival with the Group 1 $1m Darley Australian Cup (2000m) at Flemington the following week also a possibility.

While Oldfield has his sights set on repeating the efforts of ten time Group 1 winner So You Think who returned to Moonee Valley for a successive Cox Plate victory after winning the weight for age championship of Australasia as a three year old in 2009.

“So You Think came back and defended his crown and won it so I suppose we’ll have an attempt at doing the same’,” Oldfield said.

“I know you can’t compare him to So You Think and we wouldn’t even try to do that but at the same stage Shamus Award was rated higher on their form ratings.”

Story by Mark Mazzaglia, to view full story click here

Photo by Bruno Cannatelli, to view Bruno's website click here