South Australian sprinter Sghirripa returns for 2025 Oakleigh Plate after luckless attempt last year

After a luckless race last year, Sghirripa returns for redemption in the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate at Caulfield on Saturday.

Sghirripa wins the Standish Handicap at Flemington in 2024. Picture: Brett Holburt / Racing Photos

Queman was the fairytale and Sghirripa was the hardluck story in last year’s Oakleigh Plate.

As Sghirripa jumped slowly before being caught wide at the tail of the field, stablemate Queman snared the box seat, eventually prevailing in a nose-to-nose battle with Hypothetical.

Sghirripa flashed home for seventh, beaten two lengths, and while trainers Shane and Cassie Oxlade rejoiced Queman’s win, there was a sense of what could have been for their grey flash.

Twelve months on, Sghirripa returns for redemption in the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate (1100m) at Caulfield, and there’s no reason he can’t flip the script in 2025.

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“You would’ve gone home really disappointed last year if you didn’t have the other horse in it and won it,” Shane Oxlade said.

“That took the edge off it a bit, because there’s not much doubt that Sghirripa should’ve won, but part of that’s his own doing by not stepping and then you’re in traffic.

“He doesn’t step as good at Caulfield as he does at Flemington, I don’t know why that is. In races like that with the speed on quick, they don’t take long to take your spot and you’re in traffic, he just got in a horrible spot last year.”

You bloody Sghirripa 🤩

The South Australian takes out the Standish Handicap in a canter for Shane & Cassie Oxlade ⚡️ @craig_newittpic.twitter.com/louwWnbCEY

— Racing.com (@Racing) January 13, 2024

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Oxlade can’t ensure Sghirripa steps cleanly but he and his daughter, Cassie, have ensured Sghirripa enters Saturday’s sprint major with every chance of winning.

The son of Lonhro has enjoyed a faultless preparation ahead of his first-up run, including a dominant five-length trial win at Morphettville last Tuesday.

“He’s done really well, we’ve been happy with him all the way along the line,” he said.

“Obviously he had a bit of a spell after he had a virus.

“He’s come back from that and been his normal self – his work has been really good.”

It’s a contrasting approach to last year’s race, which saw Sghirripa with five runs under his belt heading into the Oakleigh Plate – but with an impressive first-up record (5:1-2-2), Oxlade knows Sghirripa can impose himself fresh.

“We are as happy with his work (as last year), you haven’t had that hard run, so there’s that nagging doubt I guess, but his first-up record is really good,” he said.

“I don’t think he’s missed a place first-up, and to be honest he probably should've won three of those that he didn’t.

“You’re not going over there for a Group 1 race if you didn’t think you were right to go.”

Sghirripa’s co-trainer Shane Oxlade. Picture: Pat Scala / Racing Photos

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A gear change will see Sghirripa race with a tongue tie for the first time and jump from barrier three, with gun jockey Michael Dee aboard.

“I think the tongue tie has probably helped, Lauren (Stojakovic) just said he would pull up in his work without the tongue tie, and just take a big breath,” he said.

“After a couple strides he was fine, but with the tongue tie on there’s been none of that, whether he was just getting his tongue back a little bit.

“As long as he steps clean and can get his momentum, he’ll be close enough and from there he’s just going to need a few breaks to get going.

“Gate three, Micky Dee on, and drops 2½ kilos from last year, he’s got a few favours, I reckon.”

Sghirripa is a $13 chance with Sportsbet fixed odds for Saturday’s Oakleigh Plate.

Originally published as South Australian sprinter Sghirripa returns for 2025 Oakleigh Plate after luckless attempt last year