Newnham backing Shadow Hero to win it for his dad

SYDNEY trainer Mark Newnham reckons his father, John, will be cheering louder than anyone for favourite Shadow Hero in the $2 million Victoria Derby at Flemington today.

Not only because his son has a gilt-edged chance to train the winner of the time-honoured Classic for the first time, but also because of a Father’s Day gift which could reap him a decent payout.

“I went the early crow there,” Newnham said.

“Coming up to Father’s Day this year, he’s got enough golf shirts so I bought him a $100 futures ticket on Shadow Hero in the Derby at $26.

“I hope he wins. But I hope he’s not expecting $2600 every Father’s Day.

“He’ll be watching at home. He’ll probably be cheering louder than anyone.”

Newham has long had confidence Shadow Hero had Derby potential and nothing the colt has done in the months since has made the trainer think differently. Shadow Hero takes outstanding form into today’s 2500m-staying test for three-year-olds, having won the Group 3 Gloaming Stakes (1800m) and Group One Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) in Sydney at his past two starts.

In the Spring Champion he beat subsequent Cox Plate runner-up Castelvecchio.

“It’s been about a threemonth plan and his preparation to date has been absolutely faultless,” Newnham said. “He was always just going to have the four starts so he should be peaking at the right time. He was great the other day in the Spring Champion, with a little bit of improvement left in him, so he’s getting here in the best possible shape he can be in and I think he just needs no bad luck.

“I haven’t really got any question marks. It’s only that I want a race that gives every horse their chance and I think if that happens I’m confident my horse can come out on top.”

Shadow Hero, to be ridden by Josh Parr, was the $3.10 favourite yesterday ahead of Caulfield Classic winner Thought Of That at $3.50 while Soul Patch is $4.60.

Newnham is confident that Shadow Hero has the conformation and aerobic capacity to ensure the 2500m is no concern.

“Every race he has been in he has been the strongest through the line,” he said.