Veranillo, Astoria tackle two-year-old G1

The quality two-year-olds Veranillo and Astoria continue their quest for a juvenile feature with high hopes in the G1 Sires Produce Stakes at Randwick on Saturday.

The second leg of Sydney’s two-year-old Triple Crown has brought together a similar field to the first leg, G1 Golden Slipper Stakes, but an extra 200m to run is seen as a vital difference that could work in favour of the Godolphin pair.

“They are horses that are effective in the ground and horses that have had a bit of racing which could work in their favour over the extra ground,” O’Shea said.

Vernaillo, who will be ridden by Hong Kong’s champion jockey Joao Moreira, finished eighth behind She Will Reign on a bottomless track in the Golden Slipper, but his trainer found some merit in the run.

“The last part of his run in the Slipper was good,” he said.

“He has a lovely gate, we’ve tinkered with his gear a little and he can probably be a little closer in the run which will be important on Saturday.

“He’s done well since the Slipper and, if anything, has probably improved a bit.”

The slightly less experienced Astoria has the disadvantage of barrier 19, but O’Shea is anticipating positive signs for the future from the colt.

“We’ll just ride him quietly. He’s had the run at seven furlongs last week that should toughen him up.”

“He gets through slow to heavy ground and he’s a quality colt who will be more than competitive in these sort of races going forward.”

O’Shea is also looking forward to the appearance of the filly Alizee in the second two-year-old event on the Randwick card, the G3 Widden Aniversary Stakes.

A half-sister to star colt Astern, Alizee finished second at her latest outing and has continued to improve since.

“She’s a really nice filly who just got out-toughed in strong lead up race the other day,” O’Shea said.

“The drop back to 1100m should really suit her. I don’t know about her on really heavy ground but she’s a beautiful, quality filly and I think she’ll run very well."