Trainer Allan Kehoe to set Shaggy at Skyline ahead of potential Golden Slipper bid
Shaggy made it a hat-trick of victories last weekend at Royal Randwick and the stable hopes he can make a splash in this year’s Golden Slipper.
Trainer Allan Kehoe is prepared to alter his plans for unbeaten juvenile Shaggy as he attempts to turn his $5m Golden Slipper fairytale into a reality next month.
Shaggy put a Slipper tilt on the agenda when he completed a winning hat-trick with a sensational victory in the Pierro Plate (1100m) at Royal Randwick on Saturday.
He is not nominated for the Golden Slipper (1200m) at Rosehill Gardens on March 22 but connections will consider paying the $150,000 late entry if he wins his next start.
Kehoe was due to unleash Shaggy again in the Group 2 $300,000 Todman Stakes (1200m) on March 8 at Rosehill Gardens but the son of Sandbar is now likely bound for Saturday week’s Group 2 $300,000 Skyline Stakes (1200m) at Royal Randwick.
“It just gives him three weeks instead of two into the (Golden) Slipper if he races like he did the other day,” Kehoe said.
“It’s probably a bit better for him that way.
“Like his last race, he went three weeks into it and then if he gets his next run over and done with, we can put him away and he can float about for a week and then he will have two weeks to get ready for the Slipper if he goes down that path.”
• ‘Breaks their heart’: Boom sprinter on track for Group 1 tilt
Is Shaggy a Golden Slipper dark horse?
— Racing NSW (@racing_nsw) February 15, 2025
Allan Kehoe's unbeaten youngster is now set to head to the Todman Stakes after his all the way win in the Pierro Plate at Randwick, where he beat Comedy and Skyhook. @tabcomau@KooringalStudpic.twitter.com/LjOZfbxyv6
Group 1-winning hoop Adam Hyeronimus will keep the ride on Shaggy for the Skyline Stakes.
Hyeronimus was a late call-up to ride the speedy gelding last weekend when Aaron Bullock couldn’t make the weight for the Pierro Plate on raceday.
“Hippo (Hyeronimus) will stick with him now, he’s done nothing wrong,” Kehoe said.
“I spoke to Aaron on Monday and he said it would take him a good month to get to that weight.
“He said he would have loved to do it and was gutted but he said it was way too hard.”
• ‘That was ideal’: Favourite draws favourably in Blue Diamond
Safe to say SHAGGY has pulled up well from his Pierro Plate blitz.
— 7HorseRacing 🎠(@7horseracing) February 17, 2025
Next stop, the Todman Stakes on March 8 at Royal Randwick ðŸ“
📹 Allan Kehoe @KooringalStud@WyongRaceClub@racing_nswpic.twitter.com/szJZ2U9B9n
Bookies made Shaggy a $15 chance for the Golden Slipper after his impressive performance last weekend.
The brilliant two-year-old came through the excellent display with flying colours.
“You wouldn’t know the horse raced to tell you the truth,” Kehoe said.
“He has been full of beans the past couple of days. He is out on the farm doing somersaults, he is one happy horse at the moment.
“If we can keep him in that frame of mind, who knows where he will end up.”
Originally published as Trainer Allan Kehoe to set Shaggy at Skyline ahead of potential Golden Slipper bid
‘Garbage guts’: Big-eating filly in great shape for Diamond
Trainer John McArdle says the signs are good for eating machine My Gladiola in his bid for a first Blue Diamond Stakes victory.
Boss backs Wodeton to take gold in Silver Slipper
Glen Boss had an uncanny knack of identifying rising stars during his celebrated riding career and has declared Wodeton as the two-year-old he would want to partner this autumn.
The Valley Friday night tips: $11 value bet
An unbeaten import can notch another success while a first starter from the Nick Ryan camp can make an immediate impact as an $11 chance at Friday night’s meeting at The Valley.