G1 targets in sight for Tally

A chance at a Group One double is in store for the consistent performer Tally if he runs up to expectations in Saturday’s G3 Peter Young Stakes at Caulfield.

Trainer John O’Shea nominated the G1 Australian Cup at Flemington and the G1 BMW at Rosehill next month as targets for the gelding who returned to racing two weeks ago with a typically honest effort to finish third at G3 level at Flemington.

“Tally seems to have kicked on nicely since he was gelded last season. His first up run I thought was excellent” O’Shea said.

“The boys in Melbourne were very happy with his work on Tuesday morning and he loves Caulfield. He can give a good account of himself.”

Along with five wins up to G3 level, Tally has been placed in the G1 ATC Derby and the G1 Turnbull Stakes behind stablemate Hartnell.

While Tally is an established performer, O’Shea is looking to the three-year-old Trenchant to begin a climb through the grades over the 1800m of the G2 Autumn Classic.

“I just thought he was a grade below the Guineas horses, so we’ve gone back in grade and up in trip,” O’Shea said.

“His run last Friday was acceptable against the older horses and he’s probably coming to a peak third up.

“There’s just a little query about him running the 1800m. If he can run the trip, then he’ll be right in the finish because set weights suit him.”

O’Shea’s Caulfield team is completed by Peacock who goes back in trip in the G3 Zeditave Stakes after an indifferent performance last start following his excellent first-up fifth in the G2 Australia Stakes.

“I just thought he was a little short of a run last start so we’ve dropped him back in trip and put the blinkers on him to sharpen him up,” O’Shea said.

“If he ran up to his Australia Stakes run he’d be more than competitive.”