Headline act gears up for Spring

Spring carnival headline act Shamrocker will kick off her campaign with a trial in the next fortnight.

The Danny O'Brien-trained AJC Derby and Australian Guineas winner Shamrocker, pictured winning the Derby, will return in the Memsie Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on August 27 and has been in work at his Flemington stables sicne early June.

O'Brien has been thrilled with her progress over the winter as she heads on path towards the Melbourne Cup.

Jockey Glen Boss has taken a Cups booking for Shamrocker, but will miss her return run as he will be in Sydney to ride Smart Missile in the Group 1 Golden Rose.

"I'm like a dog off the chain about riding at the moment, almost to the point I've got to keep myself in check," Boss said.

Boss is very confident that Shamrocker can measure up to staying features this Spring as both her Group 1 wins in the Autumn came against the colts.

"She's got a great profile - a lightly raced four-year-old mare who has beaten the boys. I sat down with my manager the other day and went through the weight-for-age horses and couldn't find any. It just might be Shamrocker's spring," the triple Melbourne Cup winner said.

Story by Tim Habel and Matt Stewart, to view Herald Sun Super Racing click here

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