Danny O’Brien’s stable stars Shamus Award and Shamexpress both competed in jump-outs at Flemington on Friday morning. The Cox Plate winner and Newmarket Handicap winner performed well and are on target for their much anticipated first-up Group 1 assignments.
Shamus Award, who hasn’t raced since leading throughout to win the $3 million W. S. Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley last October, will run in the Group 1 $400,000 C. F. Orr Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on February 8.
Shamexpress hasn’t raced since his brave second to Buffering in the $1 million VRC Sprint Classic (1200m) at Flemington on November 9 last year. He won the Newmarket Handicap down the famous Flemington straight in March last year and is being aimed at back-to-back wins in Melbourne’s famous sprint race.
Shamexpress will resume racing at Flemington in the Group 1 $500,000 Lightning Stakes (1000m) at weight-for-age on February 15.