Guy Walter took advantage of the Warwick Farm Sunday meeting to give talented four-year-old Al Dhafra a solid workout ahead of his first-up assignment in the Group Two Shorts at Randwick.Al Dhafra galloped solo on the course proper and worked home stylishly over the final 600m in 33.11 seconds with new race rider Blake Shinn aboard.The four-year-old has been ridden by Kathy O'Hara in all seven of his appearances to date but Shinn has been booked to partner him throughout his spring campaign."Tha

Guy Walter took advantage of the Warwick Farm Sunday meeting to give talented four-year-old Al Dhafra a solid workout ahead of his first-up assignment in the Group Two Shorts at Randwick.

Al Dhafra galloped solo on the course proper and worked home stylishly over the final 600m in 33.11 seconds with new race rider Blake Shinn aboard.

The four-year-old has been ridden by Kathy O'Hara in all seven of his appearances to date but Shinn has been booked to partner him throughout his spring campaign.

"That was good," Walter said after watching the gelding go about his work.

"He's only had one trial and we plan to run him first-up in The Shorts at Randwick on Saturday week (October 2) so we thought it would do him good to have a day out at the races.

"I'm very happy with him."

Al Dhafra made a big impression last season winning his first four starts including the Canberra Guineas (1400m).

He suffered his first defeat when second in the Group Two Phar Lap Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill in March but quickly bounced back with a first stakes success in the Listed Carbine Club (1600m) at Randwick in April.

The son of Fusaichi Pegasus was spelled after finishing out of a place for the first time in the Group Three Frank Packer Plate (2000m).

Al Dhafra's good form brought with it a sizeable offer from Hong Kong earlier this year which the owners knocked back.

Walter said the Melbourne spring carnival was also on the radar for Al Dhafra with his sights set on a race on Victoria Derby day at Flemington.

"We don't want to be too ambitious with him but we'd like to take him down there," Walter said.

"His main aim down there will be the (Group Three) Chatham Stakes over 1400 metres at Flemington (on October 30)."