Star Kingdom autumn decider for Shinzo
Slipper winner likely to be retired at the end of his current preparation
Shinzo (Snitzel) will become just the fourth Golden Slipper (Gr 1, 1200m)-winning colt this century to race on in the autumn of his three-year-old season when he resumes at Rosehill on Saturday, but regardless of his performances he’s almost certain to be retired at the end of his campaign.
The Coolmore-owned Slipper winner, a son of Blue Diamond (Gr 1, 1200m)-winning filly Samaready (More Than Ready), is an acceptor for the Star Kingdom Stakes (Gr 3, 1200m) in what is likely to be his swansong before being ushered off to stud with arguably the most coveted Group 1 on his CV.
Not since his soon-to-be Coolmore rostermate Pierro (Lonhro), who defeated Samaready in winning the 2012 Slipper, has a colt raced on as an autumn three-year-old having taken out the world’s richest juvenile race the previous year.
The Chris Waller-trained Shinzo raced three times during the spring, finishing third to fellow colt Ozzmosis (Zoustar) in the Coolmore Stud Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m) at his most recent start on November 4.
Shinzo’s resumption comes as his two-year-old Coolmore-owned Todman Stakes (Gr 2, 1200m) winning stablemate Switzerland (Snitzel), who finished midfield behind Lady Of Camelot (Written Tycoon) in last week’s 2024 Slipper, heads to the paddock.
A decision on the continuation of an autumn preparation for the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Storm Boy (Justify), the Magic Millions 2YO Classic (RL, 1200m) winner who was acquired by Coolmore and partners in a high-stakes deal earlier this year, is yet to be made.
Coolmore Australia’s racing and bloodstock manager John Kennedy on Thursday reported that all was well ahead of Shinzo’s comeback this weekend.
“We’re happy with him, he’s working well, he’s got the right man in the saddle and he’s got a good barrier [6] and everything he’s shown us in his trackwork is very promising,” Kennedy said.
“We’ll see what happens on Saturday and then make a plan from there for what he does to round out this season.”
Coolmore Australia principal Tom Magnier and his brother MV will meet at the upcoming Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale in Sydney where it is expected that they will debate Shinzo’s future, which is likely to be retirement at the end of his three-year-old season.
“He is a high-class horse and everyone who has had anything to do with him has a very, very high opinion of him. He is the first Golden Slipper winner we’ve had here in Australia and to have [purchased him in utero] and have him in the colts syndicate, it is just very, very special,” Kennedy said.
“We really feel like we haven’t seen him at his best as a three-year-old. Obviously, he ran a great race at Flemington to be placed in the Coolmore and we were delighted with his performance that day and we really feel like he’s got more on the hood.
“He’s certainly pleasing Chris and his riders and James had the pick of anything he wanted to ride in that race on Saturday, so seeing him commit to Shinzo is certainly a positive.”
Switzerland, who won his first three starts, meanwhile, has been sent to the paddock with Coolmore and Waller maintaining their admiration for the star colt.
“He’s got the profile and the shape to suggest that he’ll train on to be a lovely three-year-old, so he’ll come back in to target the Golden Rose after a break,” Kennedy suggested.
As for Storm Boy, the centre of a deal that was worth more than $20 million up front, was to have an important hit out at Randwick on Thursday morning ahead of the ATC Sires’ Produce Stakes (Gr 1, 1400m) on Saturday week.
“At the moment, it is looking like he will press on to the Sires’,” the Coolmore confidant said.
“He was going to have a gallop [on Thursday morning], but I haven’t actually heard the results of that yet.”
Waller reported to Racing NSW stewards on Wednesday that Shinzo had undergone epiglottic entrapment surgery since the Coolmore.
The Newgate Farm-based Stay Inside (Extreme Choice), who won the 2021 Golden Slipper, did not race after September of his three-year-old season, 2020 winner Farnan (Not A Single Doubt) ran his last race in that year’s Coolmore Stud Stakes while Capitalist (Written Tycoon) rounded out his seven-start career when third in the Roman Consul Stakes (Gr 2, 1200m).
Vancouver (Medaglia d’Oro), the 2015 Slipper winner, also did not race again after resuming in the San Domenico Stakes (Gr 3, 1100m) as an early three-year-old.
Pierro, who finished his career with a second in the Doncaster Mile (Gr 1, 1600m), finished his career in April 2013, while 2011 Slipper winner Sepoy (Elusive Quality) had one start in late March in Dubai and finished his career in the July Cup (Gr 1, 6f) as a three-year-old prior to retiring to Darley’s Kelvinside in the Hunter Valley.
Widden’s late sire Sebring (More Than Ready), who won the Slipper in 2008 during the equine influenza-hampered season, did not race again after winning the Champagne Stakes (Gr 1, 1600m) at Randwick, but his former roster mate Stratum (Redoute’s Choice), who won the 2005 Slipper, finished his career when missing a place against older horses in the All–Aged Stakes (Gr 1, 1400m) in late April 2006.