A former group 3 winner might be rising 9, but there is still some life in the legs of Ric O'Shea who starts in tomorrow's $30,000 Oamaru Cup.
The son of O'Reilly is now back with trainer Steven Prince at North Taieri, where the gelding was based from 2011 to mid-2014.
Prince primed Ric O'Shea to the minute to win the 2013 White Robe Lodge Handicap andPrince could not be happier with the 8yr-old as he prepares for his third run this campaign.
"He's really well - he worked bloody good this morning,'' Prince said.
"He only comes in with 54kg and, to be fair, the other day, you could say he cantered round and ran down the straight. He was four lengths behind the second-to-last horse and passed a couple in the straight.''
That run for fifth at Oamaru on June 23 came after Ric O'Shea knuckled over at the start, giving his six rivals a decent start.
Prior to that, he made ground for third behind Irish Excuse at Wingatui in his first run for 10 months.
Prince knows Father Time has had some effect on Ric O'Shea and a track rated slow8 yesterday afternoon could work in his favour.‘‘I think the cut out of the track will help him now but his legs have always been good, to be fair.''
Prince has called on Riverton apprentice Kevin Kalychurun for his three runners tomorrow, and has a big opinion of the 30-year-old from Mauritius.
"I tell you what - he'll be the leading South Island apprentice next year.
"He's got good balance on him and goes to plan B pretty quick if something goes wrong.''
Prince also has Ivanskavinskyskvar in the opening race, a rating 65 1600m, and Odi Et Amo in race 2, also a rating 65 1600m.
Ivanskavinskyskvar has been a new horse ever since he was threatened with the sack prior to his win at Wingatui in late April, although a drop in distance had helped.
"The last race before he won, I put him over 2200m and he just couldn't get it,'' he said.
"He ran a couple of seconds over 2000m but 2200m was way beyond him and he was going to be sacked.
"But he turned the corner and doesn't take a lot of work now. He's been in for ages, but he's been going well. He just got bogged down the other day.
"I said to the owners they've been running around for $7000 and $8000 so we might as well have a shot at $20,000 and see what they're doing.''
It is a similar financial throw at the stumps with Odi Et Amo a race later.
"2000m is going to be his go but there is nothing around for him at the minute.''
"It'll be good drawn 2 - he'll just sit there and they'll all fan out at the false rail.''
Tips from the talent
• Terry Kennedy
Macy (Race 5, No 9)
• Toni Direen
News Flash (Race 8, No 5)
• Jake Lowry
Forever Vital (Race 9, No 5)
• Courtney Barnes
Lucille (Race 9, No 3)
• Kelvin Tyler
Flying Sardine (Race 3, No 8)
