To sprint or not to sprint? That’s the question for Exosphere trainer John O’Shea

GODOLPIN trainer John O’Shea admits it is a conundrum — does he stretch Exosphere’s stamina out to a mile or keep the colt to sprint distances?

Photographer: Simon Bullard. Race 6 - 3:45PM DE BORTOLI WINES GOLDEN ROSE STAKES (1400 METRES) Winner 'Exosphere' ridden by James McDonald.

GODOLPIN trainer John O’Shea admits it is a conundrum — does he stretch Exosphere’s stamina out to a mile or keep the colt to sprint distances?

It is a pleasant problem to have after Exosphere demoralised his opposition in the Golden Rose at Rosehill Gardens last Saturday.

The giant colt ran a race record time for the 1400m in the most dominant Golden Rose win in the race’s 12-year history.

Exosphere was immediately promoted to favouritism for next month’s Caulfield Guineas, run over 1600m, but O’Shea has taken note of stable jockey James McDonald’s comment after the Golden Rose where described the colt as “very brilliant.’’

O’Shea is now giving thought to whether Exosphere is freshened up and set for the Coolmore Stud Stakes-Darley Classic Group 1 double at Flemington during Cup Week.

As the trainer pointed out, Exosphere will get a considerable advantage at weight-for-age against the older horses during spring.

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EXOSPHERE’S value as a potential stallion prospect has soared to an estimated $10 million — and that is very conservative.

But it is unlikely the outstanding three-year-old will be sold and he is almost certain to join his sire, Lonhro, on the all-star Darley stallion roster next year.

Godolphin head trainer John O'Shea watches over trackwork.

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SOME of the gloss was taken away from Exosphere’s Golden Rose win by the disappointing efforts of stablemates Shards and Holler.

Shards with James McDonald aboard.

O’Shea maintains there is not that much difference between the three colts and he was so concerned when Shards and Holler were beaten so far he asked stewards to take swabs from both horses. The results of these swabs will be known in about two weeks.

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CHRIS Waller’s sensational start to the Sydney season continued with his four-win haul at Rosehill.

Waller’s winners included Group race triumphs with Catkins, Winx and Silverball, plus Good Project.

Remarkably, the champion trainer has prepared at least a brace of wins at every Sydney Saturday meeting since the August 1 meeting which started the 2015-16 season.

In the seven Saturday meetings so far, he has trained a quartet, two trebles and four doubles.

Waller has also prepared at least one winner at every midweek city meeting this season and with 29 wins, he has opened up a massive 20-win lead over nearest rival Gai Waterhouse in the trainer’s premiership.

Chris Waller at Canterbury recently.

The stable’s winning roll can continue this weekend at Royal Randwick where he has Kermadec and Royal Descent leading the charge in the Group 1 $500,000 George Main Stakes.

Waller also has the early favourites for Sydney’s two big spring carnival races at Randwick on October 3, the $1 million Epsom Handicap (1600m) with brilliant Theo Marks Stakes winner Winx, while Silverball’s tough Kingston Town Stakes effort has taken him to the top of betting for the $750,000 The Metropolitan (2400m).

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IT wasn’t all good news for Waller with his crack colt Press Statement the unlucky runner in the Golden Rose.

Although Press Statement would not have beaten the rampant Exosphere, he should have finished much closer than fifth. The Caulfield Guineas does look the right race for this colt who is racing like he needs 1600m now.

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THE Golden Rose meeting was an outstanding day’s racing and has set the tone for an exciting Sydney spring carnival.

The only disappointing aspect of the day was the Rosehill attendance of just 8319. However, this is not a problem confined to racing with the NRL finals matches in Sydney over the weekend also attracting lower-than-expected crowds, particularly the Roosters-Storm clash on Friday night which had 20521 fans.

James Maloney during the Sydney Roosters v Melbourne Storm game.

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WHEN was the last time three greys — Catkins, Silverball and Something Secret — won at a Sydney Saturday meeting?

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FAWKNER, another grey, was at his resolute best with a first-up win in the Makybe Diva Stakes at Flemington.

A proven topliner, Fawkner is now an eight-year-old but has been sparingly raced and was having only his 27th career start, recording his third Group 1 win.

But there were a number of hardluck stories in the race where the first 12 crossed the line with less than two-and-a-half lengths between them.

Rising Romance (second), Boban (fourth), Happy Trails (fifth), Alpine Eagle (sixth) and Mongolian Khan (seventh) all ran well, Dandino (11th) never got out, while Entirely Platinum (third) tried hard again and deserves a big race win.

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IT was good to see the old firm of Lee Freedman and Damien Oliver combining again with the feature race win of promising Disposition at Flemington.

Freedman, who trains in partnership with his brother Anthony these days, is putting together a powerful spring carnival team with boom imported stayer Our Ivanhowe particularly impressive in a Cranbourne barrier trial last Friday.

Originally published as To sprint or not to sprint? That’s the question for Exosphere trainer John O’Shea