Full Speed Ahead For Astern At Randwick

A drop in grade and natural improvement give the quality colt Astern his chance to add some more black type to his record in the G3 Kindergarten Stakes at Randwick on Saturday, April 2.

Astern (John O'Shea/James McDonald) had his G1 Golden Slipper prospects upset when he missed his lead-up run and then drew wide, but the colt's previous two wins place him on a different level to Saturday's opposition.

"He's probably improved since the Golden Slipper, he may have been a bit fresh after missing his lead-up, and he drops significantly in grade here, so I'm expecting him to reproduce his earlier form," said trainer John O'Shea.

Astern is part of a six-horse team supporting Godolphin's strong contingent in the four G1 races on Day 1 of The Championships at Randwick, and each has good prospects.

As well as the son of Medaglia d'Oro, O'Shea will saddle Moher in the G3 Carbine Club Stakes; Alegria in the G2 Chairman's Handicap; Seltzer in the G3 Adrian Knox Stakes; and Painted Firetail and Pearls in the G3 PJ Bell Stakes. James McDonald rides all except Painted Firetail who is to be handled by Sam Clipperton.

Of the group, it may be the last-start winner Moher who has the strongest prospects.

"There is hardly a better looking horse in the yard at the moment. He's a model of consistency and we're satisfied he's capable of stepping up to this level," O'Shea said.

For the stakes placed filly Alegria, the opportunity to claim a black-type win will depend on her ability to cope with a stiff staying test, but O'Shea believes she is in the right sort of form to do it.

"The question mark is certainly the step up from 2000m to 2600m, but she was very strong through the line last start and comes in nicely under these conditions. She worked with our Derby colt Tally on Wednesday and went very nicely," the trainer said.

On a strong card for the Godolphin fillies, Seltzer, a daughter of Authorized, goes into the Adrian Knox with modest form, but with reasonable prospects.

"There were excuses for her last time out and when she ran second at Gosford. I'm looking for her to show us something on Saturday," O'Shea said.

The Godolphin team is completed by Pearls who should appreciate returning to three-year-old fillies' class in the PJ Bell, along with Painted Firetail who accounted well for herself when she accompanied the G1 sprinter Exosphere in a gallop this week.