Cover image courtesy of Bronwen Healy
Written by Jessica Owers
In hot pursuit of a record-setting fortnight at Magic Millions, Queensland’s winter carnival of racing kicks on this Saturday with Moët & Chandon Derby Day at Eagle Farm. The nine-race meeting features seven black-type contests, among them the G1 Queensland Derby and G2 BRC Sires’ Produce S.
Sydney trainer John O’Shea has a strong hand among things.
The trainer brings five horses to the meeting, headed by the 2-year-old Cotehele (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) in the Sires’ Produce, and the Ocean Park (NZ) mare Rondinella (NZ), who is a market fancy for the G3 Premier’s Cup.
A few of the stable’s runners will also progress to Stradbroke Day on June 12, including Rondinella, who is nominated for the G2 The Q22, while Cotehele is a possibility for the competitive G1 JJ Atkins S.
Being juvenile
O’Shea purchased Cotehele at New Zealand Bloodstock's National Yearling Sale in 2020, from the draft of Valachi Downs where he cost NZ$100,000. The colt is a half-brother to the G1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas winner Ugo Foscolo (NZ) (Zacinto {GB}).
Cotehele has done little wrong since he began trialling for O’Shea in late March, winning his first race by 3.5l at Newcastle, and then running third to Dark Rebel (Astern) at Warwick Farm a fortnight ago (Dark Rebel is also in Saturday’s field).
Cotehele (NZ) as a yearling
The colt is a late bloomer, but there’s a reason for that, according to O’Shea’s assistant trainer and racing manager, Tom Charlton.
“He’s a Tavistock, and probably still not fully mature,” Charlton said. “In that respect, he has exceeded expectations to where we see him lying in the future. Despite being a bit backward, he still had natural ability and did a good job breaking his maiden, but he’s definitely going to be a better horse in six months’ time.”
"Despite being a bit backward, he (Cotehele) still had natural ability and did a good job breaking his maiden, but he’s definitely going to be a better horse in six months’ time." - Tom Charlton
Charlton said the stable was confident about Cotehele, but also forgiving. The colt is still doing a few things wrong, but there’s talent enough for Saturday’s Group 1 field.
“Heading into his first trial, we thought he was capable,” Charlton said. “From there, he was on the right program for the winter carnival. His second start (at Warwick Farm) wasn’t ideal. It was a very Heavy track and he found it all a bit too much, but back on a sand surface on Saturday he should get a nice run, and we think the track will suit him well.”
Cotehele has drawn barrier 12 for the Sires’ Produce, and will have jockey Brenton Avdulla aboard.
The stable was cautious about committing to the JJ Atkins on June 12, admitting it was an obvious target, but not an essential one for a colt that is still on the up.
“If he wins, how could you not?” Charlton said. “But he’s definitely got a lot of improvement to do, and a lot of growing, so no matter what happens, everything is geared towards his 3-year-old campaign at this stage.”
Chitty Chitty bang bang
O‘Shea has had 6-year-old mare Rondinella since the early part of winter last year. She arrived from New Zealand with a consistent dossier of 20 runs and four wins, and she has since competed 11 times for O’Shea.
Rondinella was a last-start runner-up in the G1 Sydney Cup and, before that, second to Quick Thinker (So You Think {NZ}) in the G2 Chairman’s H. She is second choice in the betting for the G3 Premier’s Cup on Saturday, behind only Le Don De Vie (GB) (Leroidesanimaux {Brz}).
“We’re gutted about the draw,” Charlton said.
Rondinella has drawn the widest marble in barrier 13.
“She has performed so well this last preparation, concluding with an excellent effort in the Sydney Cup,” Charlton added. “We gave her two weeks in the paddock, and her trial back since was excellent. She just seems like a happy horse.”
Rondinella is largely owned by the Chitty family of New Zealand’s Haunui Farm. She is from the Group 3 and Listed winner Our Valpolicella (NZ) (Red Ransom {USA}) and, as such, is especially well-bred.
She is a half-sister to a trio of stakes winners that includes the stallion Catalonia (NZ), also known as Vilanova (NZ), and the brilliant galloper Celebrity Dream (NZ) (Thorn Park).
Charlton said Rondinella will be very competitive at Eagle Farm.
“John always said that horses improve second time around, whether they’re coming from Europe or even New Zealand,” he said. “That definitely was shown with this mare. Ocean Parks have a reputation of getting better with age, and she’s thriving.”
Rondinella (NZ)
Shedding kilos
Away from the stakes races on Saturday, the O’Shea yard will send out market favourite Faschanel (NZ) in the first race of the meeting.
The 4-year-old mare belongs to local owners Peachester Lodge, and she will sport Jamie Kah in the saddle.
Faschanel has drawn barrier eight for the Class 6 Plate over 1400 metres, and she’s in-form with two wins from as many starts since late April.
“She’s really found her feet the last couple of runs,” Charlton said. “She’s a filly that seems to take great confidence off her wins. We always thought she was capable of a higher grade, and this is a suitable race on a suitable track.”
“She’s (Faschanel) a filly that seems to take great confidence off her wins. We always thought she was capable of a higher grade, and this is a suitable race on a suitable track.” - Tom Charlton
Faschanel will shed 7.5kg from her saddle on Saturday, after carrying 61.5kg in her last outing. The stable won’t ask her to do much more after the weekend.
“She’ll likely head for a break after this race,” Charlton said. “She’ll spell at Peachester Lodge, who are very loyal supporters of the stable. They send some beautifully bred fillies to us, and they’ve got some nice, young horses coming through the ranks.”
In the shadow of the National Sale
The O’Shea yard will also have the Neil Werrett-owned Mr Gee (All Too Hard) in the G1 Queensland Derby. The 3-year-old gelding is a wide chance in the betting, but he’s lightly raced for O’Shea with only nine starts.
“We’re aware that he’s an outsider, but we probably think that he’s slightly over the odds,” Charlton said. “He hasn’t yet had a chance to show his true talents this preparation. He’s gone through bad barriers, bad track conditions, and he was never in a suitable race.”
Mr Gee has won two races to date, and was a respectable fourth in the G3 Grand Prix at Eagle Farm on Boxing Day. He is unplaced in his last three starts, but Charlton is optimistic.
“He’s lightly raced, and he should get the trip and enjoy the ground,” he said. “We think he’s capable of running well and being in the finish.”
Lot 687 - Intrepidacious
Finally, the yard will wrap up Saturday with Intrepidacious (Shooting To Win) in the last race, the Magic Millions-sponsored Listed Helen Coughlan S. It’s an appropriate race for the 4-year-old mare, who was sold on Tuesday to Grant Bloodstock, via Lee Freedman and Andrew Williams, on Day 1 of the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale.
Intrepidacious made $575,000 in the ring, and is from the family of G1 Robert Sangster S. and G2 VRC Sires’ Produce S. winner Rostova (Testa Rossa).
She is a winner of five races in 20 starts for O’Shea, and was placed in an additional seven. That includes her last-start second at Doomben in the Listed Bright Shadow S.
“She had a career-best run in her last start,” Charlton said. “She’s been in the form of her life, and this will be her final run for us before heading to Lee Freedman. She’s got a good gate (barrier four) and Tim Clark will suit her running-style well. If she can repeat her performance of last time, there’s no reason why she won’t be in the money.”
