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By John Curtis

Wyong trainer Allan Kehoe has a spring in his step as he takes three horses to Saturday’s provincial meeting at Hawkesbury.

His brilliant two-year-old Shaggy is back from a spell and may resume in a 2YO Handicap (1100m) at the Bob Charley AO Stakes fixture at Royal Randwick on June 7.

Shaggy went to the paddock after finishing fifth to Newcastle colt Rivellino in the Group 2-Skyline Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on March 1; his first defeat in four starts.

Wyong trainer Allan Kehoe - has three runners at Hawkesbury on Saturday. Image by Bradley Photographers

Connections scrapped paying a late entry fee for the $5m Golden Slipper at Rosehill Gardens three weeks later, and instead sent him to the paddock.

“I’m really pleased with him,” Kehoe said this morning. “He didn’t go up in height but went out and has come back to our farm in terrific order.

“We’re changing things up giving him some arena work for a fortnight, and all going well he will resume at Randwick against his own age in early June.

“I’m aware he will get plenty of weight, and I’ll probably get Anna Roper (Wyong apprentice) to ride him.

“She was very helpful riding Shaggy in work last time, and deserves an opportunity to ride him in a race.”

Kehoe goes to Hawkesbury with Prince Of Sorts (Pierlite Conditional Benchmark 68 Handicap, 1400m-$6.50 on TAB), Dreamdeel (HPM LeGrand – Brilliant Lighting Benchmark 64 Handicap (1300m-$19) and Shaggy’s older half-sister Moonlight Grace (Sal – Schneider Benchmark 64 Handicap, 1300m-$41).

Kehoe, who says Shaggy’s performances have drawn new clients to his stable, is prepared to overlook Prince Of Sorts’ last defeat in a Provincial-Midway Championships Qualifier (1400m) at Kembla Grange on March 22.

“He did plenty of work in the race, and that wasn’t his true form,” Kehoe said. “Prince Of Sorts had won a Provincial Benchmark 64 Handicap (1350m) at home at his previous start.

“He is probably 12 months away from reaching his peak, but can definitely gallop. He goes back to his right grade tomorrow, and Olivia Chambers, who knows the horse well and has won on him, takes 2kg off his back.”

Kehoe wasn’t surprised when Dreamdeel at $61 very nearly caused a boilover when just caught by Peace Centre in a Benchmark 64 Handicap (1200m) the same day Prince Of Sorts contested the Qualifier.

“I knew he would go well; he has often run some terrific races when resuming,” Kehoe said. “And he goes even better second up (winning three from six), although I didn’t trial him this time before he resumed at Kembla Grange.

“Still, I’m surprised about the double-figure odds being quoted about him. Moonlight Grace goes back to Hawkesbury where she won a Midway Benchmark 72 Handicap (1100m) at their big Saturday meeting two years ago.

“She has raced only twice there, and was just beaten in a Provincial Maiden (1000m) in December 2022 when resuming (subsequent 11-times winner Bubba’s Bay ran third). Moonlight Grace has now had three runs back from a decent break.”

The rail is 4m out from 1100m to 450m, and in the TRUE position for the remainder of the circuit. Hawkesbury’s new racecourse manager Digby Nuthall at 7.20am today posted a Soft 5 rating.

A total of 38mm of rain has been recorded in the past week, but nothing in the previous 24 hours, and no irrigation has been put on the track in the last seven days.

Hawkesbury’s bumper nine-race program begins at 12.45pm and concludes at 5.40pm.

View the final fields with full form & race replays for Hawkesbury here