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By Ray Hickson

John O’Shea is adamant exciting galloper Waihaha Falls was ready to confirm his status as a sprinter of the future by giving The Hunter a big shake at Newcastle on Saturday but he’ll likely have to settle for smaller fish.

Trainer John O'Shea (Pic: Steve Hart)

The emerging five-year-old is stranded as fourth emergency in the $1 million race and save for four scratchings before 7.30am on race morning he’ll be taking his place in the Karaka 2023 Handicap (1300m) and not the main event.

Waihaha Falls would carry 52kg in The Hunter but he’ll be asked to shoulder 61.kg in the Benchmark 88 and while that’s an ask in itself O’Shea said the gelding is ready to win whichever race he contests.

“He would have started very short. There are a couple there (in the Hunter) that could be doubtful but we need a bit of luck (to get in),’’ he said.

“If you’re going through the form of the race there’s not a lot in good form there.

“But (the other) is a nice race for him.

“He’s dropping significantly in grade, albeit he has plenty of weight, but he has a nice draw and comes in all right with Reece’s claim.”

Jones partnered Waihaha Falls twice for two big wins in the winter as he was coming through the grades and such has been his rise he’ll be up 9kg on the second of those in a Benchmark 88 on July 9.

The gelding’s only start since then saw him luckless after drawing a wide gate in the Group 3 Sydney Stakes (1200m) a month ago and he did a huge job to run fourth behind Rocketing By.

Naturally, O’Shea hopes luck goes his way from barrier three on Saturday.

“He didn’t get a lot of luck there and it is what it is. He just needs an unimpeded run,’’ he said.

While all eyes will be on Waihaha Falls, $2.70 favourite with TAB on Thursday, O’Shea warned stablemate Cotehele shouldn’t be underestimated after returning to winning form second-up.

He drops 2.5kg on that all the way win at Randwick two weeks ago and has James McDonald in the saddle for the first time on race day.

“He’s a really nice horse going particularly well. We weren’t surprised when he got the job done the other day,’’ he said.

“We just need a bit of luck, he has Mac there on Saturday and looks to map well so we’re looking forward to it.

“You would never say Cotehele couldn’t beat (Waihaha Falls) with that weight scale and with James on. Anything James rides is going to be very competitive.”

Comeback galloper Lion’s Roar will be O’Shea’s runner in The Hunter, the race he won last year with Lost And Running, as he makes his return from an injury that saw him miss the autumn.

It’s been just over a year since the Group 1 winner last raced and while he returns with no issues O’Shea said he’s going to improve on whatever he does in this and his next start.

“I would think it would be a big challenge for him to be in the finish but he needs to start somewhere,’’ he said.

“We’ve been very happy with his trials, he’s had a long steady build up to this.

“He’s a horse that will need some racing, we need to get him back in the game. Ideally we’ll get to the Villiers (The Ingham) and give him a run or two after that and hopefully he will blow out a few cobwebs and get competitive and go on from there.”

Waihaha Falls runs fourth in the Sydney Stakes

O’Shea produces a promising three-year-old in Saveadateforme who shoots for a hat-trick in the Group 3 $200,00 New Zealand Bloodstock Spring Stakes (1600m) after wins at Kembla and Goulburn last month.

He posted his maiden win second-up by 2-1/2 lengths then put four lengths on his rivals jumping to Class 2 grade so he’s earned a shot at something better.

“He’s a horse we’ve been bringing along steadily and he’s going along okay,’’ he said.

“He’s improved each week, obviously he’s going to need to improve going into Saturday but we think he has and hopefully that’s good enough to have him competitive.

“We’ll be happy to be competitive and run well and lay a foundation for the autumn.”

All the fields, form and replays for Saturday's Newcastle meeting