Trainer Allan Kehoe aiming high with exciting youngster Shaggy in the spring

One-time Golden Slipper wildcard Shaggy is set to make his return at Randwick on Saturday as trainer Allan Kehoe sets some lofty spring targets.

Shaggy will look to kick off his spring carnival campaign on the right note. Picture: Getty Images

Trainer Allan Kehoe is confident stable star Shaggy is ready to make the transition from one-time Golden Slipper wildcard to bona fide spring stakes contender when he returns at Royal Randwick on Saturday.

Kehoe is eager to aim high with his lightly-raced talent, which impressively won three of his four starts during a memorable debut preparation during the autumn.

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At one stage he was on the second line of betting for the Slipper despite not being nominated for the two-year-old main event.

Kehoe would have given serious consideration to paying the Slipper late entry had Shaggy won the Group 2 Skyline Stakes but eventually sent him for a spell when the gelding finished fifth in the lead-up event.

Shaggy will be back at the races in the Keeneland September Yearling Sale 2YO Handicap (1100m).

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“He looks like a bull now,” Kehoe said.

“He didn’t grow much in height but he put on 20-25kg.

“It’s really noticeable. He is really chunky, he’s a big boy.

“He didn’t grow any higher, just wider and he feels so much stronger underneath you.”

Zoinks! Shaggy leads all the way to win the Pierro Plate and races into TAB Golden Slipper contention for Allan Kehoe!@aus_turf_clubpic.twitter.com/a233Smg15g

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) February 15, 2025

A three-start stakes run will be on the agenda if he can run well in his return, starting with the Listed $200,000 The Rosebud (1100m) at Rosehill Gardens on August 16.

It will be followed by starts in Group 3 $250,000 San Domenico Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill Gardens on August 30 and Group 2 $300,000 Run To The Rose (1200m) on September 13 at the same venue.

“If he performs really well in those and holds his own, he will go back to the water walker or something and come back and look to Melbourne at the Coolmore,” Kehoe said.

“We won’t go down a Golden Rose path with him or anything at this stage, we will keep him over the short trips.”

Trainer Allan Kehoe (left) has high hopes for Shaggy. Picture: Getty Images

Shaggy was given the top weight of 60.5kg in his return but Kehoe will make the most of apprentice William Stanley’s 3kg claim.

The son of Sandbar has trialled up well in the lead-up, winning his most recent effort over 800m on the Beaumont track at Newcastle, and has continued to impress around the stable.

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“He is ready to go,” Kehoe said.

“We just do short sharp stuff with him but he’s a very easy horse to train.

“He is keen to get out there, of an afternoon you would think he still a colt because he ends up on his back heels and legs flying everywhere.

“He is very happy and well and you would think it’s the middle of summer with his coat.”

Originally published as Trainer Allan Kehoe aiming high with exciting youngster Shaggy in the spring