SHAGGY IN BRISBANE FOR METROP DEBUT

WYONG flyer Shaggy has arrived in Brisbane in search of a metropolitan breakthrough at the Sunshine Coast on Saturday.

Trainer Allan Kehoe this morning gave the “all clear” for a start in the 2YO Handicap (1000m) after he rode him a lap of Doomben racecourse after being floated north overnight.

“Shaggy felt great, and has come on since his Coffs Harbour win,” he said.

“He travelled up really well. The trip hasn’t hurt him at all.

“Shaggy is a tough bugger, and licked his feed bin out when he came home from the Coffs Harbour race.”

Aaron Bullock rode the son of dual Listed winner and Group 2 and 3 placegetter Sandbar (by Snitzel) 1kg over at 58kg when he scored as a prohibitive $1.14 hotpot by nearly six lengths in a 2YO Maiden Plate (800m) on January 12, burning his rivals off with dazzling speed.

Shaggy was in fact first season sire Sandbar’s first winner with his debut runner.

Kehoe chased Kooringal Stud (where Sandbar stands) to get Shaggy as he has won two city races (including a Midway Handicap at Hawkesbury’s stand-alone meeting) with older half-sister Moonlight Grace (by Scissor Kick), and also paid $50,000 at the 2023 Magic Millions yearling sale at the Gold Coast for half-brother I Want This (by Prized Icon), whom he believes will be okay with more time.

Shaggy was withdrawn from last year’s Inglis Classic yearling sale.

Kehoe also entered the youngster for two-year-old races at Royal Randwick on Saturday, and Grafton on Monday.

“I felt the Sunshine Coast race was the more winnable, and I’m not worried about drawing the outside barrier (10),” he said.

“This race starts out of a ‘chute and he has the pace to overcome it.”

Kehoe has booked leading Brisbane jockey James Orman, but has already committed to Bullock going back on the gelding in his major target – the $200,000 Wellington Boot (1100m) at the Showcase Cup meeting on Sunday, March 30.

“I’m from the country, and the Boot is the race I would love to win,” Kehoe said.

Whilst the Wellington feature is still a fair way off, he is considering keeping Shaggy in Queensland for another race provided he performs up to his expectation on Saturday.

“There’s a 2YO Handicap (1110m) at Doomben in a fortnight,” Kehoe said.

Travelling horses to Queensland is nothing new for the Wyong trainer, who has won races at both Doomben and Eagle Farm.

He has had only two runners at the Sunshine Coast, but without success.

That’s likely to change this weekend given Kehoe’s confidence in his young sprinter.

Story John Curtis, January 23. 2025 - Pics Bradley Photos

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