Shangri La Boy put to test in Spring Champion

SYDNEY Shangri La Boy made his debut only on Sept 17, but co-trainer Adrian Bott is confident the well-related colt can end the week as a Group 1 winner.

The three-year-old son of Pierro will have his fourth career start in the A$2 million (S$1.68 million) Spring Champion Stakes at Randwick on Oct 25.

The 2,000m event will be run just 38 days after his debut, where he finished third behind the Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou-trained Snitzel Dancer in a 1,250m three-year-old maiden race at Canterbury.

A fortnight later on Oct 1, the talented colt won a 1,400m Maiden Plate at Rosehill Gardens, before an all-the way win in the Group 3 Gloaming Stakes (1,800m), which secured his Spring Champion start.

Bott, who trains in partnership with Gai Waterhouse, recognised it had been a rapid rise for the two-time winner, but is delighted with the way he is holding it together.

"He was excellent there last start in the Gloaming. He was up in grade relatively quickly and up in trip, but it seemed like a dominant performance," said Bott.

"He's come out of that in excellent shape. There's still further improvement in him and, he'll continue to appreciate the 2,000 metres. He seems in terrific order."

Shangri La Boy - out of Pelican - is a half-brother to the Magic Millions winner and 2024 Group 1 Golden Slipper (1,200m) place getter Storm Boy, who Bott and Waterhouse prepared before the son of Justify was exported to continue his career in Ireland.

Bott said Shangri La Boy was completely different to his famous sibling, who is now standing at stud at Coolmore in New South Wales, and has always shaped as a horse who would get over a bit of ground.

"I think the trip will be okay. He seemed to run it strongly last start," he said.

"He seems in great shape and has plenty of natural staying ability.

"It's another test again, 2,000 (metres) and 2,000 at Randwick, so he's going to have to keep improving, but he has done, and he keeps doing that."

Shangri La Boy, the current 5-2 favourite in the market, is one of 15 entries for the Spring Champion Stakes, with the Joseph Pride-trained Godolphin colt Attica headlining his list of potential rivals.

With Shangri La Boy's regular rider Adam Hyeronimus taking the reins on Attica, he will be ridden by Nash Rawiller for the first time.

Waterhouse and Bott also saddle Champagne Hero, who will be ridden by Regan Bayliss.

The three-year-old son of Maurice was the favourite in the Gloaming Stakes at his last start, but finished only seventh.

Third in the Gloaming Stakes, San Giovanni will also line up in the Sydney Group 1 showpiece, and his trainer Michael Freedman is convinced the Zoustar gelding will relish the rise in distance.

A latecomer to the racing scene, San Giovanni did not start racing until late in his two-year-old season, and won back-to-back races at Newcastle and Kembla Grange at his first two starts in July.

Freshened after those two victories, he returned in Stakes company at Rosehill Gardens on Sept 13, but finished well back in the Group 3 Ming Dynasty Quality Handicap (1,400m).

Stepping up to 1,800m at his past two starts, San Giovanni has finished third both occasions - both times at Rosehill - with his most recent start in the Gloaming Stakes on Oct 11.

Freedman liked what he saw from San Giovanni at his last start and is looking forward to trying him over the 2,000m.

"He ran great in the Gloaming last time," said the trainer.

"He was really strong through the line. To me, he shaped as though he's going to really relish the 2,000 metres."

Freedman has quashed any thoughts of a trip to Melbourne for a potential start in the Group 1 Victoria Derby (2,500m) at Flemington on Nov 1.

"I'm not a huge fan of the 2,500 metres of the Derby for the three-year-olds at this time of the year," he said.

"I think if he can run well on Saturday, then I think we'd probably pull the pin, put him away, and look to the autumn with him.

"He's come a long way in a relatively short space of time, so I think he might have a future as a stayer."

San Giovanni has drawn barrier five and will be ridden by Andrew Adkins, who has been aboard the three-year-old in all three outings this campaign. SKY RACING WORLD