SHAGGY MISSES EAGLE FARM AND 2YO SEASON ENDS
- Provincial Racing NSW
- Jun 12
- 2 min read
ALLAN Kehoe abides by the belief that “patience is a good thing”!
Thus the Wyong trainer has decided to pull the pin on a planned Brisbane assignment with his talented two-year-old Shaggy this weekend.
When Shaggy drew barrier 16 in a field of 17 for the Listed Oxlade Stakes (1200m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday, Kehoe didn’t have to think twice.
“That’s the finish of his two-year-old season,” Kehoe said this morning.
“I have taken him out to our farm, and he’ll have three weeks there before we bring him back to the stables.
“Shaggy is in great order, and he is going out a happy horse.
“Ash Morgan (who was to have ridden Shaggy on Saturday) rode him in an exhibition gallop between races at Wyong last Sunday, and was really pleased with him.
“However, there’s no point taking him to Brisbane and running him from that wide barrier with the rail out 4m for the meeting.
“I’m not sorry though that I brought him in for a preparation.
“Many trainers do that and whilst I’m still a relatively young trainer, I’ve seen enough not to make the mistake of keeping him going.
“Patience is a good thing.”
Kehoe plans to do some arena work with Shaggy on the farm to keep him ticking over, and is looking at early three-year-old races in Sydney – all at Rosehill Gardens.
“There’s the Listed Rosebud Stakes (1100m) on August 16, and the Group 3 San Domenico Stakes (1100m) a fortnight later,” Kehoe said.
“Provided all goes well in those, he can go on to the Group 2 Run To The Rose (1200m) on September 13.
“Hopefully he can measure up to the top three-year-olds, and we’re giving him every chance to do that.”
Shaggy’s withdrawal from the Oxlade has left NSW jockeys’ premiership leader Ash Morgan with only a solitary Eagle Farm mount.
He has been booked for his Provincial-Midway Championships Final (1400m) winner Matcha Latte in the Listed The Wayne Wilson (1600m).
Morgan had been booked for Lady Laguna in the $3m Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m), but she wasn’t an acceptor when the field was declared on Tuesday.
Morgan has ridden Matcha Latte three times for wins in a PMC Qualifier (1400m) at Newcastleon March 20 and the Final at Royal Randwick on April 12, then fourth on a heavy track in the Group 3 Hawkesbury Gold Cup (1600m) at the metropolitan Saturday meeting on May 3.
With 100 victories so far in NSW this season (he also won the $3m Sunlight on Private Harry at the Sunshine Coast in January), the Newcastle jockey leads apprentice Braith Nock (95) and Jean Van Overmeire (93) in his bid to capture a third State title.
Leading Newcastle trainer Kris Lees and jockey Tommy Berry will again partner in the Oxlade with last start Doomben winner Damien.
The pair joined forces to land the Group 1 Queensland Oaks (2200m) at Eagle Farm last Saturday with You Wahng, who is now spelling.
Story John Curtis, June 12, 2025
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