Shards Ready For Group One Test

Time/Date - 17.40hrs local time/Saturday, October 10, 2015
Racecourse/Country - Caulfield/Australia
Surface/ Distance - Turf/1600m

The most serious test of his career faces Shards when he runs in the G1 Caulfield Guineas over 1600m at Caulfield on Saturday, October 10.

But trainer John O'Shea believes the colt is up to the task following an encouraging effort at his most recent run when he chased home the Guineas favourite, Press Statement, over the 1500m of the G2 Stan Fox Stakes at Rosehill on September 26.

The performance followed his seventh behind stablemate Exosphere in the 1400m, G1 Golden Rose at Rosehill two weeks earlier.

O'Shea said the Medaglia d'Oro colt, who has drawn barrier 12 of 16 and will be ridden in the Guineas by Jim Cassidy, had improved since his latest run and he is confident he can maintain his progress.

"He was very strong through the line last time behind a good horse," O'Shea said.
"It's hard to turn things around in one run, but he's back in the game now.

"Press Statement is there again and he's a good horse, but the two weeks since his last run have been good and I expect him to appreciate the extra distance in the Guineas."

Shards has already shown he is up to stakes class with his win three runs back in the G3 Up And Coming Stakes which came after a solid two-year-old season.

On Saturday he again meets Press Statement who is proven at 1600m and at G1 level through his win in the JJ Atkins Stakes at Doomben in June.

Before that had had registered a half-length victory over Shards when winning over 1350m at Rosehill.