O’Shea and Charlton eye Big Dance ticket with Cross Tasman

Randwick trainers John O’Shea and Tom Charlton will look to strengthen their chances for the $3 million Big Dance at Randwick in November when promising galloper Cross Tasman resumes from a spell in Sunday’s $200,000 Goulburn Australia Goulburn Cup (1400m).

O’Shea and Charlton won last month’s South Grafton Cup with Mr Chaplin earning eligibility for the Big Dance when scoring in that event. O’Shea believes Cross Tasman is set to follow in those footsteps.

“It’s not an easy race at Goulburn by any means, but Cross Tasman is a promising horse and it’s a race we have targeted for him,” O’Shea said.

Cross Tasman has only had nine starts but has a fantastic record with four wins and four minor placings. He is a well-bred five-year-old by Super Seth out of former quality mare Daffodil.

“He’s a horse that came through the grades well last campaign when winning three in a row in the city,” O’Shea said.

“And his last two starts before a spell resulted in two close seconds, so he went out for the break in good form.

“We’ve given him two barrier trials to get him ready for the Goulburn Cup and he’s shown us he is spot on target. The race has probably come up a little bit stronger than what we had anticipated, but I’m confident he’ll acquit himself very well as he usually does.”

Kerrin McEvoy rode Mr Chaplin in the South Grafton Cup and sticks with O’Shea and Charlton when partnering Cross Tasman at Goulburn.

O’Shea and Charlton will have one other Goulburn runner, with Dylan Gibbons having the ride on Sanchuelo in the Gordon Pub Punters A GPG Hotel Super Maiden Showcase Handicap (1400m).

“He’s a very nice horse by Almanzor that is showing us his share of ability and we are looking forward to seeing him at the races,” said O’Shea.

“He’s had the two trials in preparation for his debut and the 1400m at Goulburn looks like it will suit. He should run very well.”