Astoria ready to confirm potential at Rosehill

A glimpse of the future could be on offer at Rosehill on Saturday when Astoria attempts to make to it two-from-two in the G3 Schweppervescence Stakes.

Astoria is considered a colt of the highest potential by trainer John O’Shea and his team, and he gets the opportunity to confirm that status in a race that may well lead to a G1 appointment later in the season.

On a program that is again likely to be staged on a heavily rain-affected track, Astoria lines up alongside fellow two-year-old Marsupial in the Schweppervescence at the head of a team of O’Shea-trained runners including the imported trio Spectroscope, Floodlight and Ancient History, the promising three-year-old Honeywine and the quality 3YO colt Impending.

Astoria (James Doyle) has shown great promise from the time he came into training, winning his first trial last September and then scoring brilliantly at Warwick Farm at his first race start earlier this month.

“He’s only had the one run at 1100m and he’s stepping up to 1400m at Rosehill, but he’s a quality colt and he’s effective in the ground,” O’Shea said.

“He hasn’t had an ideal preparation, but he’ll be very good at 1400m to a mile later-on.”

Another Rosehill runner whose future could be in better races is Honeywine (James Doyle) who could earn himself G1 ATC Derby consideration in the G2 Tulloch Stakes.

“His first two runs this time in were a little disappointing so we took him back to the trials,” O’Shea said.

Honeywine duly finished third in his trial, just behind the subsequent G1 winner Our Ivanhowe.

“His work’s been good, he’s very fit, he’s been effective in a better grade than this previously so we’re hoping he can bounce back to a bit of form,” his trainer said.

O’Shea is looking for Impending to make a return to winning form in the G3 Star Kingdom Stakes following his fourth behind the high-class performers Le Romain and Chautauqua in the G1 Canterbury Stakes.

“This is a bit of a drop back in grade from the Canterbury Stakes where he ran particularly well,” O’Shea said.

“He’s got more weight than we anticipated, but third up last preparation was his most effective performance and he worked really well on Wednesday morning.”

A winning performance on his Australian debut by the former French-trained Spectroscope (Corey Brown) has O’Shea anticipating another strong showing in the G3 Doncaster Prelude.

“He steps up in grade here from his first start, but he gets significant weight relief and he’s trained on beautifully,” O’Shea said.

“He’s really adapted to the Australian conditions and I don’t think the wet ground holds any fears for him.”

A second import, Floodlight (Regan Bayliss), has his second Australian start in the G3 Neville Sellwood Stakes, along with stablemate Ambience.

“First up he was excellent at 1500m. He’s stepping up to a more effective trip on Saturday and he worked very well on heavy ground on Wednesday morning.

“He’s probably one run from being spot-on, but I still think he can be effective.”

Ambience (Corey Brown) backs up after a good second at Rosehill last Saturday and is expected to have conditions to suit in the same race.

“She should be able to box-seat here and with no weight she can hopefully go one better,” O’Shea said.

Ancient History (Corey Brown), the winner of two races in France, makes his second Australian appearance in the non-graded Benchmark 88 Handicap.

“He’s got no weight and he’ll be ridden much more conservatively than at his first start here. I think that’s the key to the horse,” O’Shea said.