O'Brien targets Newmarket with Decircles

Following the impressive return of Decircles at Flemington on Saturday, trainer Danny O'Brien told Radio Sport National yesterday that he is leaning towards setting the promising colt on a path towards the $1M Newmarket Handicap in March.

"He's a nice colt and I'm sure he'll be able to win a good race at six furlongs" O'Brien said.

"We'll have to be all systems go if we were to run in the Australian Guineas (1600m) where as I can just back off him and give him a few weeks between runs if I set him for the Newmarket".

"If I do go that way he might end up in races like the Rubiton but we'll just see how he does this week before making any decision."

O'Brien similarly has an fair idea of what he is going to do with impressive four length two-year-old winner Shamexpress, a horse he believes could have "quite a future".

"He got through his gears well, his action was terrific, he's got a turn of foot and he's bred to stay."

"He's pulled up well from the run and the Sires Produce looks the logical target as I don't think he'll really be suited by the shorter races like the Blue Diamond."

O'Brien also touched on his multiple group one winning mare Shamrocker who will be set for the Brisbane winter carnival.

"I couldn't isolate what was wrong with her during the spring.

"She went to the vet at Werribee and apart from some heat in her hocks we couldn't find anything major.

"She's had three months in the paddock and we'll just slowly build up towards Brisbane in the winter with a view to giving her a European style preparation and race her right through to the spring."

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