Malice Out To Crack Plate

Time/Date - 15.05hrs local time/Saturday, April 18, 2015 Racecourse/Country - Royal Randwick/Australia
Surface/Distance - Turf/1m 2f

Malice returns to a mile and a quarter for the Group Three Japan Racing Association Plate at Royal Randwick, Australia, on Saturday, April 18.

The John O'Shea-trained four-year-old scored gamely over the same trip in the Listed ATC Cup at Rosehill Gardens in November and was third in the 10-furlong Group Three Johnnie Walker Frank Packer Plate at Royal Randwick in April, 2014.

The son of Teofilo was beaten a head on his latest appearance in the Group Three Hyland Race Colours Doncaster Prelude over seven and a half furlongs at Rosehill Gardens on March 28 - his first start since the ATC Cup.

John O'Shea said: "Malice continues to improve at home and his work since his last start has been excellent.

"The only issue for him is being second-up over 2,000 metres, which is the upper limit of his preferred distance range.

"Although he has done as much work as possible going into this race, there is still a query over 2,000 metres this early in a preparation.

"This run will top him off nicely for the Wagga Wagga Cup (May 1)."

James McDonald links up for the first time with Malice, who faces 11 others including Group One Doomben Cup runner-up Leebaz, Group Two third Kourkam and Group Three second Our Voodoo Prince.