Flemington trainer Danny O’Brien says everything is on track for Shamexpress and his crack at international fame at Royal Ascot next week...
Flemington trainer Danny O’Brien says everything is on track for Shamexpress and his crack at international fame at Royal Ascot next week.
This year’s winner of the $1 million Newmarket Handicap (1200m) at Flemington has been in the UK for a week and O’Brien joined him there on Tuesday.
This morning’s sportinglife.com quotes O’Brien as saying he is delighted with the condition of Shamexpress just five days out from his engagement in the Group 1 King’s Stand Stakes, on the opening day of the famous five-day meeting.
"He took the trip really well which is obviously the big thing.
"It is a long time travelling but he seemed to handle it,” O’Brien was quoted as saying.
"Importantly, he is enjoying Newmarket - in the week he has been here, he has settled particularly well into his surroundings. He is a happy colt and seems to be very relaxed. All good so far,” he added.
"He has not done any fast work yet - he will have one gallop tomorrow.
"He left Australia very fit so the gallop should put him spot on for Tuesday.
"We had a barrier trial at Flemington and the horse who finished second then, Linton, went on to win a Group One sprint, the Stradbroke Handicap, so Shamexpress's form leaving Australia was very good,” O’Brien explained.
"He is a horse I have always had a good opinion of but it was his win in the Newmarket Handicap which sealed the trip to Royal Ascot.
"The Newmarket is our biggest Group One sprint and has been a strong pointer to past Australian success at Royal Ascot - it was a pretty easy decision to take after that,” he told sportinglife.com.