John O’Shea believes a win is not far away for Maximal, and he could be the star of a fairytale story in the Cox Plate at The Valley on Saturday.
The five-year-old stallion is a $41 outsider with Palmerbet for the $5 million feature over 2040m.
And indeed, it would be something very special if he could beat Anaome.
James Cummings’s middle-distance superstar has won his past three starts in fine fashion – the Might And Power, George Main and Winx Stakes.
But O’Shea was happy with Maximal’s last start, a runner-up finish in the Turnbull Stakes over 2000m on October 1.
“When he ran in the Turnbull he was only second-up and probably just gave out in condition in the last little bit,” he told racing.com.
“He’s not far off the bunny. I think Ben (Melham) rides him really well, too. We don’t need to reinvent the wheel too much to be in the finish.”
O’Shea also believes Maximal – second in the Doomben Cup on May 28 – will handle a wet track and start reinvigorated in mind and body from barrier five.
“He’s had three weeks between runs, so he’s been really fresh,” he said.
“He did a nice piece of work on Tuesday and a trip to The Valley, which he really enjoys.
“Exerting some energy on the track in the morning, and being out and about really suits him.”
The Valley was rated a Good 4 at midday on Friday.
But with rain forecast for Friday and Saturday, O’Shea said his runner would handle softer conditions.
“I think he’s fine anyway. Your (Melbourne) tracks what you rate as 6s and 7s – they’re 4s or 5s in Sydney,” he said.
“Your tracks are so healthy and you’re so well prepared that they can cop a bit of a deluge at this stage.
“His goal was always to run in the Caulfield Cup or Cox Plate, and then get to Flemington and run on Champions Day in the Mackinnon.
“We’re pretty committed to run. I think he needs the outing.
“It’d have to be an absolute quagmire for us to not run him.”
Meanwhile, O’Shea said he was confident $4 winning chance Shalailed would be right in the mix at the finishing post in the Group 3 Red Anchor Stakes (1200m).
“Probably our best chance of the weekend. It’s been a race we’ve had on the radar for a good six months,” he said.
“He put up a good performance at Caufield the other day (second in the Blue Sapphire Stakes on October 12) and he looks to map really well in a fast-run race on Saturday.
“If he gets rain it’s not going to be an issue.”
O’Shea said experienced and aggressive jockey Nash Rawiller would get the best out of his three-year-old sprinter.
“He gets Nash, and Nash is a rider I’ve been wanting to get on him,” he said.
“He just needs to be bullied a bit late, and there are none better than Nash to do that.”
Elsewhere in his stable, O’Shea is adamant Lost And Running has a bright future.
This slightly softened the bitter blow of his second-favourite being scratched on the morning of the $15 million Everest at Randwick last Saturday.
The six-year-old gelding was found to be lame in the off hind leg after a vet inspection.
“It’s not ideal, but it is what it is. We still have a horse and we still have the capacity to compete in some really nice races later on in the spring,” O’Shea said.
“So all is not lost. It was just disappointing that so much work went into presenting him on one day at his absolute best.
“We never got the opportunity to show him out in public.
“But I’m sure he’ll get to run in plenty of Everests before his time is finished.”
O’Shea believes his sprinting star has made a full recovery.
“He’s fine. He actually could’ve run on Sunday he’s training that well,” he said.
“So he’ll have a little trial (on Friday, subsequently finishing second over 1030m) all going well.
“And then we’ll line him up next week in the Winter Stakes. He gets an opportunity to get to 1300 at Rosehill where he’s had two starts and won (the Luskin Stakes and finished runner-up in the Classique Legend Stakes last year).
“I’m not one for mulling on what could be or what has been.”
O’Shea said star rider Hugh Bowman was also shattered not to have the opportunity to ride the Premiere Stakes winner in the world’s richest race on turf.
“I know Hugh was very disappointed. He was disappointed when we rang him to tell him,” he said.
“And after riding in the race (finishing seventh on replacement Kementari) he was even more disappointed. He thought he’d be competitive.”
And O’Shea has moved on from Benaud’s 16th in the Caulfield Cup last Saturday, another “not ideal” result for his stable.
But he believes the four-year-old still has plenty of good days ahead.
“He just got back in a slowly-run race. And then when Regan (Bayliss) wanted to press the button on him, he was unbalanced and turning,” O’Shea said.
“It just wasn’t ideal. So we’ll just forget about it and come back to Sydney in the autumn.
“He’s got a bright future and he’s got a really good race in him at some stage. We’ve just got to work out where that is.”
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