Shooting To Win Ready For All Aged Bid
- Wednesday, 15 April 2015 07:57
If attention to detail goes a long way in Group One races, Shooting To Win has been given every chance to add an All Aged Stakes victory to his Caulfield Guineas triumph.
Thanks to a meticulous rehabilitation program since a George Ryder Stakes disappointment, Shooting To Win will chase a belated autumn Group One victory in the $400,000 race at Randwick on Saturday.
The colt could have easily been in a spelling paddock.
James McDonald on Shooting To Win at the Caulfield Guineas
Shooting To Win missed the Doncaster Mile due to a back complaint and he returns to the fold in the All Aged accompanied by a sense of relief from the Snowden stable.
"Third up in the George Ryder we couldn't have been happier with the horse," co-trainer Paul Snowden said.
"And he looked like he was absolutely going to blow them away at the 300 (metres) but his run ended probably about 150 (metres) out.
"Once we found the back issue, which we have been onto ever since, even though it was disappointing, it was quite pleasing to find something wrong with him."
Shooting To Win proved his fitness in a Warwick Farm barrier trial placing on Friday, finishing ahead of All Aged rival Scissor Kick.
Along with Australian Guineas winner Wandjina, they represent the three-year-old challenge in the last Group One race of the Sydney autumn carnival.
Shooting To Win has drawn closest to the rails of the trio in gate three with Scissor Kick in barrier four and Wandjina out wide in stall 12.
Snowden said Shooting To Win had received acupuncture treatment as well as daily chiropractic and massage sessions to have him back in excellent racing order.
"We feel he is back to his best, otherwise we wouldn't be running him," Snowden said.
But bookmakers have framed an early market that points to Chautauqua completing the TJ Smith Stakes-All Aged double.
A winner from an almost impossible position in the TJ Smith, Chautauqua has been made the $2.80 favourite.
Terravista, third in the TJ Smith after covering ground, is the $5 second elect with William Reid Stakes winner Lucky Hussler on the third line of betting at $7.
Chautauqua has drawn the rails and is expected to settle closer than he did in the TJ Smith when he came from last on the turn to score a last-stride win.
