Vashka Goes For Hall Mark

Time/Date - 16.25hrs local time/Saturday, April 18, 2015 Racecourse/Country - Royal Randwick/Australia
Surface/Distance - Turf/6f

Vashka seeks a sixth straight victory on his Pattern race debut in the six-furlong Ticketek Hall Mark Stakes at Royal Randwick, Australia, on Saturday, April 18.

The John O'Shea-trained four-year-old has made a meteoric rise through the handicap ranks and was an easy winner of a Rosehill Gardens contest over just short of seven furlongs on January 3.

He also gained three easy successes at Rosehill Gardens at the end of 2014, scoring over an extended seven furlongs on December 20, six and a half furlongs on December 6 and slightly further on November 15.

The son of Exceed And Excel, ridden by James McDonald, started his sequence with a nose verdict in a six-furlong handicap at Warwick Farm on October 29.

John O'Shea commented: "Vashka has had a lovely foundation going into this race with two barrier trials and good work preparation.

"I am adamant the horse is better over a bit further but he has to start his prep, is in good order and it is a nice run from gate two. He doesn't know how to run a bad race and I don't expect any different from him here."

Vashka races against 12 rivals including prolific winners Our Boy Malachi and Craftiness, plus Group Three scorer Target In Sight.