Latest News

By Brad Gray

John O’Shea is confident that the extra trip will pose no problem for Tally as he heads towards the re-run of the Schweppes Sydney Cup (3200m) at Randwick on Saturday.

“We’ve been really optimistic about getting him to two miles,” said O’Shea of Tally who will be joined by Godolphin internationals Penglai Pavilion and Polarisation.

“He definitely hasn’t gone backwards since the first running of the race and has come through the run well. He was pulled up at the 1200.”

The last start Mornington Cup-winner has drawn barrier 1 for the $2 million staying feature with Tommy Berry to steer.

Saturday will also see the return of Tessera, who has been gelded since he was last seen over the spring, and O’Shea expects a forward showing from the three-year-old who won the Group Three Canonbury Stakes as a juvenile.

“Tessera has had a long preparation leading up to this. He’s a Group-winning horse who I don’t think is too badly weighted,” O’Shea said.

“He worked very well on Tuesday morning and he’s the class horse in the race.”

Tessera (Steve Hart)

Two-year-old colt Siam will wear the royal blue in the opening race at Randwick and looks to have found a suitable assignment according to the stable.

“Siam raced really well in Victoria. At the time I was a little bit disappointed in some of his performances, but he’s got form around Catchy and really good-class two-year-olds.”

“He’s trialled well and worked well but I don’t know about him on rain-affected ground. He’s a nice horse, just a tier below the top grade, so that will have him competitive on Saturday.”

Godolphin will also be represented at the meeting by Divine Sanction who has “been desperate to get on a big track at a mile-and-a-half” and Cottage who “needs to get herself back in the game after her first-up run on really heavy ground.”

Check out the fields for Randwick on Saturday