SHINN BOOKED FOR UNDER FOCUS IN COOLMORE STUD STAKES
BLAKE Shinn will get a “feel” of Golden Rose placegetter Under Focus in a Flemington jumpout on Friday.
Leading Newcastle trainer Kris Lees has planned the jumpouton the same straight course where Under Focus will contest Saturday week’s $2m Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m).
He has booked Shinn for one of the Melbourne Cup carnival features, regarded as a stallion-making race for colts.
Lees’ foreman Cameren Swan flew to Melbourne today, and the colt will be floated south tomorrow.
Under Focus was excellent when third to subsequent Group 1 Caulfield Guineas winner (and one of the favorites for Saturday’s $6m Cox Plate at Flemington) Warwoven in the Group 1 Golden Rose Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill Gardens on September 26.
“Under Focus had a short break at our farm at Ellalong after the Golden Rose, and then came back to the stables at Broadmeadow,” Lees said this afternoon.
“The five weeks between runs will be perfect coming back to 1200m.”
Under Focus, a son of Too Darn Hot, is raced by Yu Long Investments and was a $300,000 purchase (Lot 239) at last year’s Inglis Australian Easter yearling sale in Sydney.
He has raced only six times, and broke through at his second start at the Kensington track on March 25 in a 2YO Handicap (1100m) after debuting when second to boom colt and Coolmore favorite The Next Episode at Warwick Farm two weeks earlier.
He has since been placed in the Group 3 Kindergarten Stakes (1100m) at Royal Randwick, and Group 2 Run To The Rose (1200m) at Rosehill before his Group 1 placing.
Under Focus is currently a $15 chance in the Coolmore with TAB.com.au; The Next Episode dominating betting at $2.70.
Meanwhile, Under Focus’ stablemate Infancy has secured a start in Saturday’s $2m The Invitation (1400m) for fillies and mares at Randwick.
Eleven “girls” have been invited to contest the Group 2 feature, and Infancy is currently a $51 outsider.
She has won twice at Randwick, including the Group 2 Sapphire Stakes (1200m) last year when resuming.
Infancy ran fourth to Perfumist (a rival again on Saturday) in the Group 3 Tibbie Stakes (1400m) at the Newcastle Cup carnival on September 18, and has since won a 1000m Beaumont trial on October 12.
Lees also nominated Harrybegood for Saturday’s Group 3 Callander-Presnell (1600m) at Randwick, but is yet to decide if he will run.
Harrybegood ran home nicely when fifth to unbeaten Chuchichaschtli in the Listed Tapp-Craig (1400m) at Rosehill on October 10.
This year’s Sydney Cup winner Changingoftheguard has been sent for a spell.
The gelding hasn’t started since a below par sixth to Aethelwulf in the Group 3 Newcastle Gold Cup (2300m) on September 18, and has been troubled by a nagging cough.
“We just couldn’t get him right, so it was best to stop and give him a break,” Lees said.
“Hopefully we can get him back for another crack at the Sydney Cup (3200m) next autumn.”
Lees was in the winning list at Muswellbrook today, taking the closer, the Pat Farrell Memorial Benchmark 66 Handicap (1280m) with five-year-old gelding Etoile Filante (Aaron Bullock).
STORY JOHN CURTIS, OCTOBER 19, 2026 - PICS BRADLEY PHOTOS
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