Top colt ready for Randwick return

The highly-anticipated return to racing of the talented colt Astern is scheduled in the G1 Darley T J Smith Stakes at Randwick on Saturday, depending on the condition of the track.

Astern established himself as Australia’s top sprinting three-year-old with his victory in the G1 Golden Rose early last Spring and had his most recent run when second to Flying Artie in the G1 Coolmore Stud Stakes at Flemington last October.

Minor setbacks have delayed his reappearance, but O’Shea is satisfied he is ready to perform on Saturday.

“We just have to hope the rain doesn’t come, because if it got to a heavy, we wouldn’t run Astern,” O’Shea said.

“But on a fair surface he gets a wonderful chance to be competitive.”

Astern has been prepared for Saturday’s race with two barrier trials and a nice piece of work at Newcastle last weekend that O’Shea said “blew out a few cobwebs” that had gathered during Sydney’s long spell of bad weather.

“He hasn’t had the best of preps in terms of continuity," O’Shea said.

“Ideally in the heavy ground, it’s best to have had a run somewhere, which he hasn’t had.

“But he’s a happy horse and a fit horse and I think he’ll jump out and put himself into the race.”

In a race that has brought together highly-qualified experience and youth, Astern is opposed by fellow three-year-old Russian Revolution who scored impressively first-up on a heavy track, Chautauqua, once the world’s top-ranked sprinter, wet-track specialist Rebel Dane and the classy filly English.

O’Shea named Russian Revolution as the pick of them.

“I think he’s the horse to beat, but Astern has met Russian Revolution previously and been able to get past him,” he said.

“We’re happy with him and whatever he does on Saturday, he’ll improve a lot.”

Astern’s next appearance after Satuday is planned for the G1 All Aged Stakes at Randwick on April 15.