Steps In Time can emulate former top mare Hot Danish on Saturday by becoming a dual winner of the Listed Wiggle Quality.
She will be one of two John O’Shea-trained mares in the 1400m Warwick Farm feature along with Colorado Claire.
Steps In Time - Photo by Steve Hart
Hot Danish is the only horse to have won the Wiggle Quality (1400m) twice, taking it in consecutive years in 2008-09.
O’Shea says Steps In Time has a couple of factors in her favour as she bids to go back-to-back.
“The smaller field will probably help Steps In Time and under those weight conditions she is very well treated,” O’Shea said.
“But she is up against some very good horses.”
Her six rivals are headed by the Group One winners Streama and Appearance who both showed they had returned in great order with strong first-up showings at Warwick Farm two weeks ago.
O’Shea was also buoyed by the return of Colorado Claire on the same day with the mare finishing third in the Triscay Stakes on an unsuitable wet track.
“I was very happy with her first-up run. She’s made nice improvement since and I expect her to run well on Saturday,” he said.
Former South Australian gelding Bagman will have his first start for O’Shea in the Group Three Liverpool City Cup (1300m) and his new trainer won’t be surprised to see the Doncaster Mile hopeful run a cheeky race.
“Whatever he does on Saturday he will improve on. But he trialled very well the other day, his work has been very good and he looks to be a horse that won’t take very long to come to hand,” O’Shea said.
He is also banking on juvenile Le Cordon Bleu staking his Golden Slipper claims in the Lonhro Plate (1100m).
“He’s probably our best chance of the colts,” O’Shea said.
