Ostraka has continued on his winning way in the Silver Eagle at Randwick and in the process has put forward a compelling case to be given his chance in the $10 million Golden Eagle in a couple of weeks.
Jockey Blake Shinn was able to overcome the outside draw on Ostraka by electing to press forward on the in-form gelding in Saturday’s $1 million race for four-year-olds over 1300m.
Once Ostraka began well and Shinn was able to cross the field, they were able to control the race and $4.20 betting site favourite Ostraka kept finding in the home straight to defeat Xidaki by a half-length, with War Machine a long head away third.
Ostraka has now won his past four starts, including three from three this spring, and his performance on Saturday has secured him a ballot exemption into the Golden Eagle (1500m) for four-year-olds on November 2.
The talented galloper is yet to win beyond 1400m but co-trainer Annabel Neasham indicated the chance to run the in-form Ostraka in the rich race would be hard to pass up.
“We’ll see what Blake says but for that amount of prizemoney, we’ll be trying I think,” Neasham said.
Neasham, who trains in partnership with Rob Archibald, believes Ostraka will only get better as well as he continues to develop.
“I think he’s very good,” Neasham said.
“He’s so progressive.
“I said to the owners pre-race, ‘I think he’ll be better again in six and 12 months’ because he’s grown a lot but he hasn’t yet really furnished, I don’t think.
“I just love that he’s so diverse. He can go forward or go back. But the ride won the race there.”
Shinn, who rode Ostraka to a Listed race win in Brisbane over 1200m at the end of his previous preparation, believes Ostraka is capable of making his presence felt in the Golden Eagle.
“He really settled well today,” Shinn said.
“He pricked his ears. I know it is going to be different in a Golden Eagle but the prizemoney is there on offer and it is a hard race to pass up with a horse like this.”