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By Ray Hickson

A pair of encouraging last start performances from somewhat enigmatic stablemates Captain Amelia and Good Banter has co-trainer John O’Shea hopeful the pair can parlay them into wins at Rosehill on Saturday.

Trainer John O'Shea (Pic: Steve Hart)

It’d been some 14 months between victories for Captain Amelia when she scored at Canterbury second-up while Good Banter, a winner of two from 12, showed O’Shea she was heading back to form with a close up fifth at Flemington a month ago.

The duo will be ridden by the highly rated UK jockey Billy Loughnane, the 18-year-old emerging star, who kicks off his summer riding visit this weekend.

O’Shea said he was pleased to see Captain Amelia back up a promising first-up performance with her overdue win and sees no reason why she can’t hold her form in the Captivant @ Kia Ora Handicap (1300m).

“I think it’s done her the world of good,’’ O’Shea said.

“We decided not to run her last Saturday because of the track and where she drew and I think it’s been worthwhile.

“I’m not sure whether she’s as effective at Rosehill, but I still think she can run well.”

The four-year-old, $13 with TAB on Wednesday, was well supported when she rounded up her opposition at Canterbury on November 15 and O’Shea, who co-trains with Tom Charlton, said the breakthrough was the confidence boost she needed after having her limits tested last season.

“It was more to do with running well in stakes races and she ended up where it hurts, then she consistently drew bad barriers,’’ he said.

“We’ve been conscious this time to not run her until she drew well. We waited, got a good draw, then she got a result.”

Good Banter was a Group 3 winner of the Adrian Knox Stakes earlier this year and she steps up to the distance of that win in the TAB Handicap (2000m).

The mare was sent to Melbourne for her third run this campaign and O’Shea felt her effort showed she was “back in the game”.

“She ran very well, that was a positive run for her,’’ he said.

“She gets up to her preferred distance, she has a nice draw and it’s a nice drop in grade for her.

“We will look forward to her running well and if the ground got worse than a (soft) 6 it wouldn’t be the worst for her.”

It’s likely O’Shea will roll the dice with Cohetele having his second run from a long layoff in the James Squire Handicap (1400m) despite an outside barrier.

The six-year-old resumed in The Hunter last month and while he wasn’t able to make an impact there the run has been beneficial.

“We held him back last week from a bad draw, he wasn’t quite ready,’’ he said.

“It’s been a while since he’s been to the races, it’s not ideal that draw but he needs to go racing.

“He got a bit out of his ground (at Newcastle) which was surprising, I thought he’d be a lot handier.”

Meanwhile, O’Shea said promising filly Candlewick will likely take her place in Friday’s Schweppes Handicap (1400m) at Kensington and Ravello will, track dependent, head west for the $75,000 Robert Oatley Mudgee Cup (1400m).

Candlewick, a half-sister to Classique Legend, was a shade unlucky not to make it two from two at Wyong last month and O’Shea said she’s headed for the paddock after her third start.

“We only wanted to give her one more run and test her at seven, we’ll see what that brings,’’ he said.

“We can hopefully give her a little break in the leads up to the autumn.”

Captain Amelia wins at Canterbury on November 15

Ravello is also accepted in the Candadian Club Handicap (1500m) at Rosehill but O’Shea said the Mudgee Cup holds plenty of appeal, not the least as it carries Big Dance eligibility for next year.

The gelding ran seventh in the Little Dance last month.

“He looks to have drawn well and to be fair looks to be one of the chances in the race,’’ he said.

“His run in the Little Dance was very good and he looks to map well from two.”

All the fields, form and replays for Saturday’s Rosehill meeting