Shima Shine will spearhead a star-studded Victorian assault on Saturday night’s heats of the Group 1 Golden Easter Egg (520m) at Sydney’s Wentworth Park.
Racing at the peak of his considerable powers after a brilliant last-start victory in the Horsham Cup, Shima Shine is trained by Andrea Dailly, who is taking aim at a third Easter Egg title.
Team Dailly struck ‘gold’ with Grigorieva Bale in 2013 and the great Fernando Bale in 2015, as Victorian-trained sprinters enjoyed a remarkable domination of NSW’s most prestigious event with nine straight victories between 2010 and 2018.
Shima Shine is joint $7.50 second elect in TAB’s ‘All-In’ Easter Egg market, alongside Australian Cup hero Tommy Shelby, with NSW’s Flying Ricciardo favourite at $6.
The next Victorian in betting is Australian Cup runner-up Fernando Bluey, prepared by teenager Kayla Cottrell, at $11.
Shima Shine has raced four times at Wentworth Park, notching two wins and two minors, contesting the last two Million Dollar Chase series, finishing runner-up in the 2019 final to Good Odds Harada and bowing out in last year’s semi-finals.
WATCH: Superstar Shima Shine (7) salutes in sensational style in the G2 Horsham Cup at his most recent start.
The superstar son of Barcia Bale and Shima Song is a dominant $1.65 favourite from box two in Saturday night’s third heat with co-trainer Tom Dailly warning his rivals he’s ready to go.
“He had a few issues the last time he was up at Wentworth Park but this time he’s spot on,” a bullish Dailly said.
“From box two it just depends on how he gets out.
“He’s not normally a flying machine early, which is what you usually need at Wentworth Park, so he just needs to get out and get a bit of room early.”
The Dailly kennel’s hopes of a third Easter Egg crown don’t rest entirely with Shima Shine, with Fabriola Zad (heat 1), Faithy Bale (heat 2), Jax Bale (heat 5), Shima Jake (heat 6) and Aston Cade (heat 7) also heading north for what appears certain to be a very wet weekend.
A total of 18 top-shelf Victorian sprinters will contest the 10 heats; however, the raiding contingent received an alarming number of ‘visitor’s draws’.
Aussie Secret, Do It, Jax Bale, Run Baba Run, Mr. Fix It and Fernando Bluey were all allocated box four; Fabriola Zad, Tyler Durden and Lakeview Walter drew five; and Faithy Bale, Zipping Sultan and Zipping Zarbo will exit six.
