The goal for Yorkshire has always been next month’s Ingham, with John O’Shea and Tom Charlton preparing him to peak for the Randwick mile.
But the winner of six of his nine starts has attracted the attention of punters, to the surprise of the stable, since the beginning of his late spring preparation.
He was favourite for The Hunter, where he suffered a heart arrhythmia finishing well back and out of the placings for the first time in his career.
Again, he will be the favourite for Saturday’s Festival Stakes, where he has drawn barrier one.
“Everyone has seemed to have found him,” Charlton said. “I was shocked he was favourite at Newcastle because he was always going to be better for that run. It was a starting point.”
“We are looking to build him up for The Ingham.”
“It wasn’t ideal what happened last time, and he needs to get back on track with another run if we are getting to the Ingham.”
“That is what we want to get from the Festival, see that he is back. He worked well on Tuesday morning and has been good since Newcastle, so we expect him to run well.”
Yorkshire was the first horse backed in Saturday’s 1500m Group 3 from $4 to $3.30 while Waterford, who has won five of his eight wins at this track and trip, was also in the punters’ frame as he has been $26 to $12.
O’Shea and Charlton will also take an important two-year-old to debut at Rosehill, Tigroni, that is owned by a ladies’ syndicate including both trainers’ wives Isabel and Alana.
“It will be a good test for her because it’s two races really put into one after we lost one during the week,” Charlton said. “She has won a trial and is a Magic Millions horse, so we will see where she fits in.”
“Zac Lloyd rides both of them and I know he is happy to be with us.”
