Owner now on board as Shaquero faces star

HAVING owned Group 1 winners like Kolding, Kermadec and Rangirangdoo, Nev Morgan learned a long time ago never to question master trainer Chris Waller.

But the Brisbane businessman admits he did a double-take when Waller decided to back-up Shaquero and throw him into the deep end against star stablemate Nature Strip in the Group 1 VRC Sprint Classic at Flemington on Saturday.

However, after further thought, Morgan could see exactly where Waller was coming from.

That’s because Gold Coast Magic Millions winner Shaquero was terribly unlucky in last Saturday’s Coolmore Stud Stakes which was won in brilliant fashion by Home Affairs.

Shaquero finished ninth as a $101 shot but with clear air at the 250m mark he arguably would have run second as he showed a significant glimpse of his best form from earlier this year.

“When Chris said we were going to back him up and run him in the Darley (VRC) Sprint, I thought ‘are you sure?’,” Morgan said.

“But I have learned never to question him.

“The jockey last Saturday (Luke Nolen) said there was no doubt he should have run a place in the Coolmore, he said he only had a working gallop over the last 400m as he just couldn’t get out.

“To be honest before that, I thought Shaquero was only just going along OK.

“The only bloke who thought he was going better than that was Chris Waller.”

There can be no understating the task confronting Shaquero ($26) on Saturday as he takes on Nature Strip ($1.33) who is set to start the shortest-priced favourite in the race since Black Caviar won as a $1.05 pop a decade ago.

Shaquero is one of four Waller runners in the race and Morgan knows he is almost certainly running for second prize.

But he thinks Shaquero can run in the placings and showcase the colt’s future stud potential.

“Shaquero has been thrown in the deep end on Saturday, that’s for sure,” Morgan said.

“Of course we would love to win it, but the realist in me tells me that won’t be happening.”