TRAINER John O’Shea is confident Havana Cooler can overcome a tricky barrier draw to win Saturday’s $100,000 Listed Lord Mayor’s Cup (2000m) at Rosehill Gardens.
The Godolphin import resumed with a big win in the Group 3 Doncaster Mile Prelude (1500m) when ridden with cover before bursting through.
He then went to the Group 3 JRA Plate over 2000m at Royal Randwick.
“He was probably a tad unlucky the other day — I thought Hughie (Bowman on Guardini) cuddled us a bit, didn’t let us out,” O’Shea said. “He put us away and by the time we got out the bird had flown.”
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READ NOWThird-up and having his second run at 2000m should ensure Havana Cooler is highly competitive, but where he settles in the run from barrier 15 could be key to his chances.
“He’s in good order, he’s just got a bad gate,” O’Shea said. “But it’s hard to tell what impact a barrier will have until the race unfolds.”
O’Shea said the son of Hurricane Run had the makings of a top stayer but we still may not see the best of him on Saturday.
“He’s a horse that is heading in the right direction,” he said. “I reckon when he gets to a mile and a half (2400m) we will see the best of him.”
A trip to Queensland for the Brisbane Cup beckons but O’Shea is mindful of races that are “very nice for him down here in Sydney”.
“We’ll wait and see where we go next. Brisbane is an option but there’s also the McKell Cup down here,” he said.
“The Doomben track is a bit up in the air. If you take a few up there it could turn into a disaster and you’re forced to bring them all home.”
Grunderzeit was good first-up over 1100m and looks suited in the TAB Rewards Handicap.
“He’s been a really slow maturer,” O’Shea said. “His run the other day was really good, he raced a bit wayward but still ran well. We’ve put the tongue-tie on him and Sammy (jockey Sam Clipperton) goes on here plus the horse has improved.”
Similar to Havana Cooler, Moher has “drawn the car park” in the Rosehill closer.
“He likes to roll forward and the 1500m is not a bad start if you’re drawn wide because you’ve got two-and-a-half furlongs (500m) to the first bend,” O’Shea said.