New Zealander Firebolt emerged as a genuine Epsom Handicap contender with a victory in the Shannon Stakes that surprised trainer Roger James.A winner over the Brisbane winter carnival, Firebolt was sent to Rosehill on Saturday because of the continuing wet tracks over the Tasman.Sent out at $11, he made a mess of his opponents in the Group Two Shannon (1500m) to beat Centennial Park ($5) by 3-1/2 lengths with a long head to Sacred Choice ($9).Although Daniel Ganderton was forced to travel wide i
New Zealander Firebolt emerged as a genuine Epsom Handicap contender with a victory in the Shannon Stakes that surprised trainer Roger James.
A winner over the Brisbane winter carnival, Firebolt was sent to Rosehill on Saturday because of the continuing wet tracks over the Tasman.
Sent out at $11, he made a mess of his opponents in the Group Two Shannon (1500m) to beat Centennial Park ($5) by 3-1/2 lengths with a long head to Sacred Choice ($9).
Although Daniel Ganderton was forced to travel wide in the early part of the race, Firebolt still had plenty left at the business end.
"I thought he had done too much work," James said.
"I brought him over here because it's so wet at home.
"We had the wettest August for 76 years and September has been worse.
"It's exciting to see what he's done. I think the trip to Brisbane has hardened him up."
The Epsom (1600m) is at Randwick on October 2 with highly-fancied Neeson sixth in the Shannon after an interrupted passage.
The New Zealand influence was also felt in the Hill Stakes when former Kiwi Descarado showed he was on track for the Cups with his all-the-way win.
It was the second feature win for Gai Waterhouse on the day with More Strawberries cementing nominal favouritism for the Group One Flight Stakes on Epsom day with her Tea Rose victory.
The win continued the resurgence of Waterhouse who has made no secret of the fact she didn't like finishing third in last season's premiership behind Peter Snowden and Chris Waller.
Snowden also produced the goods at Rosehill when Retrieve took out the Gloaming Stakes to earn his place in the Group One Spring Champion in two weeks.
Waller brought up a double with siblings Slater and Little Surfer Girl in support races on the program.
But the biggest cheers went to Sydney pin-up Hot Danish who showed she was still a force to be reckoned with this spring when she dominated the Premiere Stakes.
Hot Danish won the All-Aged Stakes and Doomben 10,000 earlier this year to claim her first Group One victories.
Now a seven-year-old, Hot Danish will be set for another Group One this spring but just which one, trainer Les Bridge has yet to decide.
"She's just a gorgeous mare, one in a million," he said.
"I have had champions before but they have all been retired at her age, she's just a marvel.
"I don't know yet whether she'll stick to sprint races or we go up to 1600 metres again for the Myer Classic.
"She'll tell me. I'm an old-fashioned trainer, I just go with the flow."