New South Wales trainer John O’Shea has had mixed fortunes in the barrier draw for Saturday’s A$500,000 The Coast 3 & 4YO Quality (1600m) at Gosford.
O’Shea lines up two New Zealand-bred daughters of Sacred Falls, with All Saints’ Eve (NZ) faring better than full sister All Hallows’ Eve (NZ) when allocated gate one in the 13-horse field.
“We are very happy with All Saints’ Eve, she has drawn one so is obviously going to map very well,” O’Shea said.
“Sam (Clipperton, jockey) will have to be a little positive to hold his line there, but it will give her a chance to be in the finish.
“All Hallows’ Eve is probably a little worse than midfield (gate eight).”
Waikato Stud’s Chittick family have a vested interest in both runners having co-bred both with Rosemont Stud. All Saints’ Eve races in the familiar silks of the Matamata-based farm while All Hallows’ Eve sports the colours of Victorian operation Rosemont Stud.
The Gosford track is currently rated a Soft6 with rain predicted though O’Shea said damp conditions should not be a problem for his charges.
“The prospect of rain probably won’t disadvantage either horse and we go there with a couple of good chances in a really nice race,” he said.
