Goodwood aim for Keys’ Star

WESLEY VALE trainer John Keys will target the Goodwood Handicap as the main mission for his enigmatic sprinter O’Lonh Star following the gelding’s impressive win in an open handicap over 1150m at Spreyton on Sunday.

The Goodwood Handicap is the traditional lead-up race to the Listed $100,000 Newmarket Handicap (1200m) run in Launceston in late November.

O’Lonh Star delivered a solid performance to outgun a classy line-up that included seasoned sprinters Gee Gee Secondover, I Remember You and Gee Gee Double Dee.

O’Lonh Star went into the race first-up but on the back of an impressive second to star mare Mystic Journey in a trial at Spreyton late last month.

But despite that showing, the gelded son of O’Lonhro started the rank outsider at $31 fixed and paid $38 on the tote.

Jockey Troy Baker said O’Lonh Star was strong through the line at the business end of proceedings and he felt the eight-year-old was going to win a long way from home.

“I was a bit surprised at how he easily he dispensed with that field because it was a very good open handicap,” Keys said. “To be honest I would have been happy had he just been placed but I’ll take the win.

“His trial behind Mystic Journey at the end of last month was very good and because he usually sprints well fresh I thought he would at least run a place.

“He ate up after the race and never left an oat in his bin, so I’ll nominate him for a 1350m race next Sunday but I’m really more interested in what the handicapper will do to his rating.

“I’ve had horses crucified (by the handicapper) in the past, so I’m hoping that won’t be the case with this horse.”

It was the second leg of a winning double for Baker who also won aboard the Adam Trinder-trained Dusty Joe that led throughout to win the Thai Imperial maiden over 1350m.

CHAMPION jockey Brendon McCoull took riding honours at the Spreyton meeting by booting home four winners.

McCoull started the day brilliantly by guiding Sh’bourne Renegade to his fourth consecutive win in a Benchmark 66 event over 1880m and in the following race he partnered first-starter Ancona to a game victory in a maiden.

It was Ancona’s first start but the six-year-old was well backed, firming from $6 to start the race $3.70 favourite.

McCoull then rode the last two winners on the 10-race card, Willby Rules for Nigel Schuuring and Sh’bourne Rebel for Shaun Nichols.

TALENTED Tasmanian sprinter-miler Tshahitsi has emerged from his first-up fifth at Caulfield last Saturday in good order and will make his way back to Tasmania this week where trainer Imogen Miller will prepare him for another interstate assault next month. Tshahitsi had not started since finishing unplaced in last year’s Newmarket Handicap in November.

The gelding won a race at Caulfield around this time last year and Miller is keen to give him the chance to replicate that in the coming weeks.