First-up specialist Minhaaj will be hoping to spoil Marabi's party when they contest the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate (1100m) at Caulfield on Saturday.
Minhaaj has an excellent first-up record with three wins and a placing from four starts, and trainer John O'Shea says she is “ready to go and we'll be looking to enhance that very good first-up record on Saturday”.
In Minhaaj's way is the unbeaten Marabi, who was a +170 favourite with Bovada when the barrier draw came out. Drawing barrier two, Marabi has the early toe to go with the likes of Jonker (+1200), Oxley Road (+1100) and Malkovich (+1600), or can just take a sit off the fast pace that is expected. Manikato Stakes winner Wild Ruler (+650) brings strong form to the race, having contested The Everest in the spring.
Will the fast tempo bring the leaders undone and possibly benefit Marabi or Wild Ruler from their lovely barriers? Or does it bring the fresh Minhaaj (+700) into it minding her own business a few pairs back on the fence from barrier one?
Minhaaj is O'Shea's only runner at Caulfield on Saturday, although he has Promise Of Success and Nolan running at Randwick. The heavy Sydney rain will likely ruin the chances of Quantico making a return this weekend, along with Maximal, Mr Gee and also Robodira, who doesn't want a big gut-buster run on a bottomless track first-up.
O'Shea believes Quantico will eventually be an Everest horse, but he also said that “he needs to get himself on the track and prove that he is”.
The trainer gave a strong push for Promise Of Success (+550) in race six at Randwick, saying “she's come on very well from her first-up run and will be hard to beat on Saturday in a tough race where she'd have to run well then hopefully head to the Coolmore (Classic)”.
O'Shea's other runner for the day comes in race four at Randwick over 1200m, where Nolan is a +5000 chance.
“He'll run no matter what, on the back up with a nice draw, he's a fit horse who's been a bit unlucky,” he said.
Meanwhile, stable star Lost And Running has come on exceptionally well from his first-up win.
“He had a nice gallop on Tuesday and we're looking forward to the next 10 days until the Canterbury Stakes,” O'Shea said.
“We'll see after the Canterbury Stakes as to what his next move is.”