Cox Plate winning three-year-old Shamus Award will kick off his autumn campaign in the Group 1 Sportingbet C.F. Orr Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on February 8.

After famously only gaining a start in the Cox Plate when star mare Atlantic Jewel was withdrawn with injury, the son of Snitzel etched his name into the history books by breaking his maiden at start number nine in Australasia’s weight-for-age championship.

Though revealing that the $1 million Group 1 Darley Australian Cup (2000m) on March 8 could still be an option for the colt, trainer Danny O’Brien said the Group 1 Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington a week earlier was Shamus Award’s main target this campaign.

 “His first target is obviously the Guineas,” O’Brien said. “He’s a colt and the Guineas is a very important race for him.

“He’s a pretty clean-winded colt and at this stage he’ll only have the one lead-up run in the Orr.

“There’s a chance that we could give him another run if we needed to in the (Group 1 Cathay Pacific) Futurity Stakes (1400m) a week before the Guineas.

“He looks sensational. He’s furnished out and has thrived in his time down at Barwon Heads.”

O’Brien said Shamus Award returned from his Barwon Heads property to his Flemington stable alongside stable mate Shamexpress on Friday last week.

He confirmed jockey Craig Williams, who partnered Shamus Award at his first three starts during his Spring campaign, will ride the colt this campaign.

Last seen finishing runner-up behind Buffering in the $1 million Group 1 VRC Sprint Classic (1200m) in November, O’ Brien said Shamexpress was on target to resume in the Group 1 Black Caviar Lightning Stakes (1000m) at Flemington on February 15, before defending his crown in the $1 million Group 1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m).

“I’m very happy with Shamexpress,” he said. He’s also in great shape.

“Both Shamexpress and Shamus Award had a strong gallop down at Barwon Heads on Tuesday morning and they’ll be trialling at Flemington on Friday.”

Click here to watch a replay of Shamus Award’s Cox Plate victory