Australian Debut Looms for Shillelagh

The NZ Racing Desk reports:

A pleasing jumpout at Moonee Valley last Friday has Matamata trainers Stephen Autridge and Jamie Richards happy that talented mare Shillelagh is on track for her quest for Australian black-type this spring.

"We're very pleased. She just had a nice day out and the jumpout would really have brought her on," Richards said.

"Damien Oliver rode her three-wide on speed and Steve was rapt with her run. More importantly Damien was really happy with her as well. Everything seems to be ticking over nicely with her."

A Savabeel five-year-old mare bred and raced by Christopher and Susanna Grace, Shillelagh has won four of her six starts, most recently scoring by 3 1/4 lengths at Ruakaka in June.

Te Akau Racing has her earmarked for an Australian debut in a 1200m Benchmark Rating 84 fillies and mares race at Sandown on 7 September.

"We'll try and recoup some travel costs paid and get her rating up," Richards said.

"Once we're through that, we'll give her a look at some black-type racing, which is the main reason for the trip. But the way she's going, we couldn't be happier with her."

Meanwhile, Cox Plate-nominated stablemate Xtravagant enjoyed a quiet week after his jumpout at Flemington the previous week.

"He looks great. He'll go to Moonee Valley and have a gallop with one of Lee Freedman's when we're ready before he kicks off in the Chandler McLeod Stakes there on 3 September," Richards said.

"Damien will ride him. He'll have a little bit of weight which won't make it an easy race to win but it will give him a good look around the Valley and it will be a good stepping stone to the Sir Rupert Clark Stakes [at Caulfield on 24 October].

"He's settled in really well over there. He's eating and drinking well and his action is good - all the key indicators are really positive."