WYONG WHIZ MUCH STRONGER FOR RANDWICK RESUMPTION

A much stronger Shaggy is ready to end his juvenile season with a flourish at Royal Randwick on Saturday – and set himself up for feature early three-year-old assignments.

The Wyong Whiz – who won his first three starts by an aggregate 10 plus lengths before a Golden Slipper bid was aborted – resumes in the 2YO Handicap (1100m).

Shaggy hasn’t raced since suffering his first defeat when fifth to $2m Inglis Millennium winner Rivellino in the Group 2 Skyline Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on March 1.

But his trainer says his gelding is fit and ready to go.

“Shaggy had that trial on heavy ground at Rosehill Gardens in late May when we were planning to take him to Brisbane for the Listed Oxlade Stakes (1200m) at Eagle Farm on Stradbroke day (June 14),” Kehoe said today.

“We didn’t go when he drew poorly, but it has worked out well.

“Shaggy put on 20-25kg during his break. He isn’t any taller, but is much wider.

“He did some dressage work in the arena out at the farm for one and a half weeks, and won his trial on the Beaumont track on July 9 (runner-up Cantiamo subsequently was an impressive trial winner at Gosford yesterday).

“Shaggy won’t lack fitness when he goes to Randwick on Saturday.

“He is a hard horse to gauge, but has really lit up in a couple of recent gallops at Wyong.”

Kehoe booked former country and now Newcastle-based apprentice William Stanley to partner Shaggy for the first time for a number of reasons.

“I’m from the country and know William’s family well, and he is riding well,” he said.

“Also Wiliiam’s 3kg claim is important, and being a heavier apprentice, Shaggy won’t have to carry a lot of dead weight.”

Shaggy has drawn the rails barrier (with the rail out 11m from the 1000m to the winning post) in a field of nine.

“Shaggy is like a time bomb ready to go off,” Kehoe said. “There’s no way William will be dragging him back once he jumps from the inside.”

In early betting, Shaggy was a $4.60 second favorite with TAB.com.au this morning behind the filly Nazwah ($2.15), an impressive Gosford debut winner against her own sex in an 1100m Maiden Plate on July 10.

Kehoe has earmarked three early season features at fortnightly intervals for his soon to be three-year-old on the basis that he lives up to his expectations at the weekend.

They are The Rosebud (1100m) on August 16, San Domenico Stakes (1100m) on August 30, and Run To The Rose (1200m) on September 13 – all at Rosehill.

The Listed Rosebud is run under Quality conditions, the Group 3 San Domenico at set weights plus penalties, and the Group 2 Run To The Rose also at set weights plus penalties.

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