3 minute read

There was a certain sense of relief evident in Godolphin trainer John O’Shea’s demeanour after the third race at the ATC Rosehill race meeting on Saturday.

And one has the feeling O’Shea is about to start churning out the winners for Godolphin again.

Before the first race, O’Shea came out from the shadows, and spoke to TVN frankly — almost humbly — about his first months as the head trainer for Sheikh Mohammed’s massive Australian operations.

Yes, he said there had been disappointments, and he’d made some mistakes. He said it had taken him time to get to know every individual horse. He said he was confident about the future.

O’Shea admitted he was somewhat shocked when Kerrin McEvoy’s announced his resignation as stable jockey, although he made it clear his relationship with McEvoy was solid and that the hoop would continue riding fancied stable runners.

Within the hour, Sweynesse had won the G3 Gloaming Stakes in commanding fashion with McEvoy aboard. O’Shea said the Cox Plate may be a target for the son of Lonhro.

And then two races later, Godolphin struck again. Abduction took out the Reginald Allen Quality at 9-1, again with McEvoy in the saddle.

The timing seemed just perfect.

“Kerrin rode her as I liked it, he got her back and on the inside, and then the race opened up for her and she attacked the line,” O’Shea said.

Never regarded as an ebullient-type among the fourth estate, O’Shea was relaxed, stuck around and engaged with journalists; gave his time to the cadets.

The irony of McEvoy being at the forefront of an O’Shea revival wasn’t lost on racegoers.

At the very least, it confirmed the veracity of the trainer’s remarks earlier in the day; of his respect for McEvoy as a person and as a rider.

This season, O’Shea has had 127 runners for 16 winners — a strike rate of 13%.

McEvoy has had 45 rides for the stable, for seven wins and a strike rate of 16%.

The other stable-jockey-elect, James McDonald has had 23 rides for the stable, for three wins and a strike rate of 13%.

In 2013-14 racing season, O’Shea had 546 runners for a winning strike rate of 18%. Now that’s a record that any trainer would be proud to own.

John O’Shea is a quality trainer and punters will benefit by staying solid.