KEHOE CALLING ON UNBEATEN YOUNGSTER TO “TURN UP” JUST AS HE DOES

IF "Wyong Whiz" Shaggy shows the same “steel” as his trainer, there’s every likelihood he will remain unbeaten going into the $5m Golden Slipper Stakes.

Whilst it’s been smooth sailing with the exciting two-year-old, who puts his Slipper credentials on the line at Royal Randwick on Saturday in the Group 2 Skyline Stakes (1200m), that hasn’t been the case with Allan Kehoe.

He was rushed to Royal North Shore Hospital last Wednesday for emergency surgery after a track mishap, and had a plate put in his right thumb.

“I was trotting and cantering a horse at the track when he lost his front feet,” Kehoe said this afternoon.

“I got caught up in the stirrups and was dragged along, and copped some decent bumps and bruises and snapped my thumb.

“But I was back at work the next morning. It could have been much worse.”

As a result of the track accident, Kehoe has called on Wyong’s star apprentice Anna Roper to handle Shaggy in his work.

Shaggy’s clash with another unbeaten youngster, Newcastle’s Rivellino, in the Skyline is sure to be one of the highlights of the Randwick meeting.

Adam Hyeronimus, who rode Shaggy for the first time when he easily took the Pierro Plate (1100m) at Randwick on February 15, partners him again, and Jason Collett is a new rider for Rivellino.

TAB.com.au today installed Shaggy as the early $3 favorite, with Rivellino joint second favorite with the Chris Waller-trained United States at $5.

Whilst Rivellino is already entered for the Group 1 Golden Slipper (1200m) at Rosehill Gardens on March 22, Shaggy isn’t currently amongst the nominations.

Though the Skyline winner automatically becomes exempt from a Slipper ballot, if one is necessary, connections will still have to pay a $150,000 late entry fee if they decide to press ahead.

“He has to show up on Saturday for us to do that, and he hasn’t gone backwards,” Kehoe said.

“Up until last Thursday he had put on 4kg from the Pierro Plate, and he looks even chunkier now.

“He’ll do a bit of work on the Polytrack here in the morning, and then we’ll keep him ticking over for Saturday’s race.

“Shaggy is a very happy horse. I realise he is getting deep into his preparation, but couldn’t be any more pleased with how he has trained on.”

Whilst Shaggy understandably will be the cynosure of Kehoe’s eyes at Randwick, he will also be keenly watching the TV screen for stablemate Prince Of Sorts at Newcastle.

The lightly-raced Tassort three-year-old contests the second Provincial-Midway Championships Qualifier (1400m), with the first two placegetters joining Rapt and Bojangles in the $1m Final (1400m) at Randwick on April 12.

Prince Of Sorts, a $22,000 buy at the 2023 Inglis Classic yearling sale Highway session, has won two of his seven starts and was placed in another four.

The gelding won his only start at Newcastle when he led throughout in a Midway Class 1 Handicap over the Qualifier course last November.

Apprentice Olivia Chambers was aboard then, but Kehoe is yet to confirm a rider for Saturday’s race, the Qualifier being a non-claiming affair.

Kehoe brought Prince Of Sorts back to Newcastle on February 11 when he won an 850m trial on the Polytrack, ridden by Aaron Bullock.

Kehoe was pleased with Shaggy’s older half-sister Moonlight Grace’s first run back at Gosford last Saturday when fourth to Stratafy in a Benchmark 64 Handicap (1100m).

Already a dual city winner, the five-year-old mare (by Scissor Kick) had not raced since early October.

Story John Curtis, January 24, 2025 - Pics Bradley Photos