3 minute read
Trainer John O’Shea regards it as a coup to secure a horse of Maximal’s quality to race in Australia and if he’s able to overcome the outside alley in Saturday’s XXXX Golden Eagle at Rosehill it will be because of his world class credentials.
The three-quarter brother to the legendary Frankel brings some of the most exciting international form to Sydney.
He's won just once in eight starts but two runs back he finished fourth in the Group 1 St James's Palace Stakes over a mile at Ascot behind the outstanding Poetic Flare and bumped into Baaeed in the Listed Sir Henry Cecil at Newmarket back in July.
Baaeed is now regarded as something of a superstar after he knocked over Palace Pier to win the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot just under two weeks ago.
"We were excited to get him and since he's got here he hasn't indicated that our assessment is wrong,'' O'Shea said.
"He has the best form in the world up to a mile and since he's got here he's proven to be a horse of immense quality."
Maximal, $14 with TAB on Wednesday, isn't just here for the $7.5m XXXX Golden Eagle (1500m) he's here to be a Group 1 force in 2022 given the horse's owners Juddemonte have partnered with Rosemont Stud and O'Shea to race him in Australia.
The Doncaster Mile in the autumn is one race O'Shea knows plenty about how to win and he said that's a likely target once he settles into the routine.
But he is still a live chance in the Golden Eagle and while O'Shea was deflated by the 'visitor's draw' he said momentum will be the key if Maximal is to win the race.
"Ideally we were hoping to be in a more forward position but when we drew 22 that's not going to be the case,'' he said.
"We'll try to be midfield or just worse with a bit of cover and if we find a three wide line that'd be great. He hasn't missed a beat, he's done very well and is very happy with himself."
Sam Clipperton was to be the rider of Maximal but a nasty jaw injury sustained over the weekend will see him out of the saddle for up to a month and Alysha Collett picks up the mount.
John O'Shea said he's more than happy with the substitution.
"Alysha has ridden well all year for us and she won't let us down on Saturday,'' he said.
The Randwick trainer unveils another import in Mirann who makes his local debut alongside stablemate Lion's Roar in the $750,000 Kypreos Group Rosehill Gold Cup (2000m).
The six-year-old, a winner of two from 15 starts, is basically having a spring cameo to learn the ropes but it wouldn't surprise O'Shea if he runs a cheeky race.
"He's in good order, it's about giving him a run so he understands the system when he comes back next time,'' he said.
"We've been very happy with him, he worked well on Tuesday morning and he will run a good race."
Lion's Roar, last season's Randwick Guineas winner, showed a return to form after he led in the Craven Plate two weeks ago and held on for third behind Think It Over.
He meets Think It Over 4kg better under the handicap conditions for being beaten just over two lengths.
"He came in a little big and it's taken a little time to get fit, he's fit now so we are looking forward to a positive run,'' he said.
"I wasn't displeased with his effort, it was very good, and if we were forced to lead again we'd do it with no hesitation."