A gritty run for third in Saturday’s Gr.2 PJ O’Shea Stakes (2200m) behind talented mare Egg Tart has convinced trainer Nigel Tiley that stable staying star Megablast is on target to contest the Gr.2 Brisbane Cup (2200m) this coming weekend.
The free-going grey battled on strongly in the run home after setting a solid pace throughout although Tiley believes he could have finished closer if circumstances had played slightly more in his favour.
“There wasn’t any real speed in the race so we went forward to try and dictate to them,” he said.
“They came up and had a look at him at the 1000m mark which probably was his undoing a little as I think if he could have got a cheap sectional there then he would have definitely run second.
“The winner was far too strong in a race that was really hers to lose however my bloke battled on really strongly and I was delighted with the run.”
Tiley was also pleased with how the Shinko King six-year-old came through the race as he looks forward to the major assignment of his Brisbane campaign.
“He ate everything we put in front of him overnight and drank plenty of water so I’m very pleased with how he has come through the run,” he said.
“We’ll monitor him over the next day or so, but at this stage he will line up in the Cup.
“The weather forecast looks as though they might see some rain during the week which will also help him although they wouldn’t want too much given how that Doomben track has played of late.”
While Tiley will remain in Brisbane for the week he will have a keen eye on his stable representatives at Avondale on Monday who are headed up by last start winners Call Me Bob and Switch In Time.
“Call Me Bob was very good first up on his home track and has really come on since that run,” he said.
“It looks like he will strike a pretty loose wet track with the amount of rain Auckland has had which will suit him.
“His work has been very good, so I expect him to be fairly prominent.
“Switch In Time had a small setback with a pulled muscle after he won first up at Avondale, but he is over that now.
“He has also been working well so hopefully he can replicate that on the day.”
