Classic Campaigns Get Underway At Randwick

Time/Date - 16.25hrs local time/Saturday, February 6, 2016
Racecourse/Country - Randwick/Australia
Surface/Distance - Turf/1200m

Campaigns aimed at the G1 Australian Derby and possibly the G1 Doncaster Mile begin for Shards and Tarquin in the G3 Eskimo Prince Handicap at Randwick on Saturday, February 6.

Shards (John O'Shea/Sam Clipperton) is racing for the first time since finishing ninth in the G1 VRC Derby at the end of a Spring preparation in which he showed great versatility with placings in graded sprints and a good second in the G2 Moonee Valley Vase at 2040m.

Trainer John O'Shea will set Shards (pictured) first for the G1 Rosehill Guineas before deciding whether to press on to the Derby or switch the son of Medaglia d'Oro to the Doncaster Mile.

"We'll get him to the Guineas and then make a decision," O'Shea said.

"I'm not entirely certain of him at the 2400m of the Derby and it could be that the shorter race is more suitable for him."

The Derby, meanwhile, is the clear aim for Tarquin (John O'Shea/James McDonald).

The lightly-raced colt is already a winner at G2 level in the Pago Pago Stakes last Autumn and that victory put the Australian Derby onto the agenda.

Tarquin stepped up in distance and finished third in the G1 Champagne Stakes. He was then spelled, returning for a run last December.

"We gave him a little summer preparation, just the one run," O'Shea said.

"I was very happy with how he progressed, it really helped him develop.

"He's looked like a Derby colt for a while and I'm looking forward to getting him out to a bit more distance."

O'Shea is also looking forward to the debut Australian performance of Arab Dawn who runs in the ungraded Gardenia Handicap (1600m) at Randwick.

The winner of a 12 furlong handicap at Royal Ascot last year, Arab Dawn (John O'Shea/James Innes jnr) has shown good promise in two trials and O'Shea is hopeful he can measure up to Stakes grade in Australia.

"He looks like a pretty good horse, he's shown us quite a bit of promise," he said.

"We're getting to know and understand him, he's got speed and obviously he can stick on. It will be interesting to get him to the races."

Arab Dawn will be accompanied in the same Randwick race by his in-form stablemate Medcaut who is to be ridden by James McDonald.