SHAGGY HEADS TO RANDWICK ON SATURDAY FOR SLIPPER TEST

THE Wellington Boot might have to wait for another year!

Wyong trainer Allan Kehoe understandably doesn’t want to get too far ahead of himself in regard to his unbeaten two-year-old Shaggy, who will make his keenly awaited Sydney debut at Royal Randwick on Saturday.

But a $5m Golden Slipper Stakes (1200m) could be in the offing rather than a $200,000 Wellington Boot (1100m).

The new plan hinges on Shaggy’s performance in the Pierro Plate (1100m), for which $3.50 Slipper favorite Wodeton has been entered along with other major fancies, stablemate United States and Randwick-trained Pallaton.

Shaggy goes to town on the back of two impressive wins at Coffs Harbour (800m) on January 12 by nearly five lengths, and the Brisbane metropolitan meeting at the Sunshine Coast (1000m) on January 25 by two and a half lengths.

“We’ll know where we are at with him on Saturday,” Kehoe said this afternoon.

“I noticed Wodeton is in a Warwick Farm trial tomorrow morning, and James McDonald has been named to ride him.

“Irrespective of whether he runs on Saturday, it will still be a really good test for Shaggy.

“But I couldn’t be happier with him.

“Aaron Bullock’s manager Drew Smith has told me Aaron (who won on him at Coffs Harbour on debut) is dieting and will ride him 0.5kg over at 56.5kg.

“If he can do that, I’m happy to have him back on.”

Bullock was aboard Shaggy when he led throughout and easily beat five rivals in an 800m barrier trial at Newcastle on December 30.

The Newcastle jockey tuned up for Shaggy’s weekend tilt in town by scoring on Newcastle trainer David Atkins’ Lounerse ($2.50 favorite) on the Beaumont track today.

Kehoe’s initial goal was to win the Wellington Boot at the Showcase meeting on March 30 (eight days after the Slipper is run at Rosehill Gardens) with the son of Snitzel stallion Sandbar, who stands at Kooringal Stud at Wagga, where the youngster was born.

However, such has been Shaggy’s improvement that the world’s richest two-year-old race has entered the equation.

“They’re only two-year-olds once, and it’s something you have to think about,” Kehoe said.

“I’ve been training for 13 years, and have had some handy horses, but never a good one.

“I really rate this fellow.

“He had his final gallop last Saturday morning prior to the Pierro Plate, and is as good as ever.

“I’ll keep him ticking over this week with some three-quarter pacework. He’s pretty fit.

“Provided he goes as well as I expect he will on Saturday, we’ll have a crack at the Todman Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on March 8.

“He isn’t nominated for the Golden Slipper, but the Todman winner is automatically guaranteed a start and I’ve discussed it with Kooringal Stud and we would be happy to pay the late entry fee ($150,000) to run him in the big race a fortnight later.”

. Shaggy’s stablemate Lease will go back to Newcastle next Tuesday seeking to make it two wins on end at the track.

He will contest a Benchmark 64 Handicap (1500m) for five-year-olds and upwards.

Story John Curtis, February 10, 2025 - Pics Bradley Photos