O'Brien keeps Shamrocker's Spring options open

 

Australian Derby winner Shamrocker is on the third line of betting for the $2.5 million Caulfield Cup, but the mare is not locked in for the race.

Trainer Danny O'Brien said he had the option of running in the Cox Plate (October 22) or the Caulfield Cup (October 15), which would be Shamrocker's final run before the Melbourne Cup.

O'Brien said Shamrocker, who resumes in the Memsie Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on Saturday, would run in the Underwood Stakes (1800m) at Caulfield on September 17 and Caulfield Stakes (2000m) on October 8, before deciding on her Cup path.

Tab Sportsbet has Shamrocker as a $15 equal-third favourite for the Caulfield Cup.

"We'll see how she stacks up in the weight-for-age races. She will have only four runs before the Melbourne Cup," O'Brien said.

O'Brien said he could not fault how Shamrocker had come back following a dominant autumn in which she won the Australian Guineas and AJC Derby.

"She's going super," O'Brien said. "She's had one trial at Flemington and came across to Moonee Valley and galloped last week. I never thought she was going to be anywhere near her best until she was four and maybe later. To do what she has done as a three-year-old is a real bonus."

O'Brien said Shamrocker was a naturally athletic filly who didn't require much work, but he doubted she could win the Memsie first up.

Glen Boss, who partnered Shamrocker in her two Group 1 wins, is committed to ride Smart Missile in the Run To The Rose at Rosehill, so Mark Zahra is expected to ride the mare.

Story by Adrian Dunn, to view full story on Herald Sun website click here

Photo by Slickpix, to view Slickpix website click here