Master Shuhood scores at Australian debut
A last start placegetter in a hurdle race in England has made a winning debut on the flat in Australia.
Now in the hands of Chris Waller, Master Shuhood took out Saturday’s Peninsula Essence Handicap (1600m) at Mornington.
Waller’s Melbourne assistant Jo Taylor thought Master Shuhood could be competitive in Saturday’s race after three jump-outs in preparation for his Australian debut.
“As with Sir Pippin, who won last Sunday (at Yarra Valley), their first two jump-outs were a little backward but after a third one, the penny dropped,” Taylor said.
“We thought after three trials he could come here and perform well, but he’ll also continue to improve.
“He needs a bit of a trip, a mile-and-a-quarter (2000m) and we’re hoping up to a mile-and-a-half.
“He’s had a go over the hurdles but we haven’t tried our hand at that yet, but who knows what Mr Waller is up to as the season evolves.”
Taylor said Master Shuhood and Sir Pippin were among a group of horses purchased last year with a view to Australian staying races.
She said the batch arrived in Australia late last year and after undergoing quarantine were put straight into work.
“They didn’t do much in quarantine and we started from scratch with them,” Taylor said.
“We’ve got people that recruit horses and they come here hoping to be competitive through a country cups program and then hopefully we get to something bigger.”