Music Review has been getting closer and closer to a win this preparation and John O'Shea believes the mare deserves to break through for a stakes victory in the McKell Cup at Rosehill.O'Shea has called on Melbourne Cup-winning rider Corey Brown to partner the mare for the first time in a bid to reverse two agonising defeats in recent starts.Music Review was beaten two lengths when sixth in the Group Two Sapphire Stakes (1200m) first-up, before being blocked for a run when fourth, less than half
Music Review has been getting closer and closer to a win this preparation and John O'Shea believes the mare deserves to break through for a stakes victory in the McKell Cup at Rosehill.
O'Shea has called on Melbourne Cup-winning rider Corey Brown to partner the mare for the first time in a bid to reverse two agonising defeats in recent starts.
Music Review was beaten two lengths when sixth in the Group Two Sapphire Stakes (1200m) first-up, before being blocked for a run when fourth, less than half a length from the winner Sacred Choice, in the Group Two Emancipation Stakes (1600m).
Apprentice Timothy Bell then jumped aboard last start and the six-year-old went even closer, outgunned by just a short neck in the $100,000 Lord Mayor's Cup (2000m).
Music Review meets her last-start conqueror Common Objective one kilogram better at the weights in Saturday's Listed 2400m feature, but it's the booking of Brown that O'Shea hopes can swing things in his mare's favour.
"Without being disrespectful to the kid (Bell), but he wasn't able to use his claim on her last start," O'Shea said.
"I think if he got to claim then she wins the race. This time Corey Brown is on and it's a level playing field."
The Randwick-based trainer can't fault Music Review and said the McKell Cup was a "natural progression" with her having raced over 1200m, 1600m and then 2000m so far this preparation.
Asked if he felt Music Review deserved a black-type victory after being beaten a short neck in this race last year and also second in the Listed City Tatt's Cup over the same trip in October, O'Shea replied: "Yeah I do, definitely."
Meanwhile, David Payne is hoping some added fitness can see Kettledrum run an improved race stepping up to the 2400m after finishing 4-1/4 lengths adrift of Common Objective and Music Review in the Lord Mayor's Cup.
"He stays well but he's never been much of a winner," Payne said of the gelding who has won just three of his 26 starts.
"He is always competitive around this distance though. He's no champ, just one of our battlers."
Kettledrum was forced to cover ground last start and he just ground away in the straight to finish sixth, but Payne said it brought his fitness levels to where they need to be if he's to be competitive on Saturday.
He has been placed in four of his five starts over 2400m.
"He's had a few runs now and is going into this race very fit," Payne said.
"This is not the greatest field and he's on the minimum with 53 kilos.
"He was out for six months so it takes three or four runs to get back to their best once they've had that long out.
"He's only getting to his peak now."