In today's Straight Shorts, luckless Sydney sprinter Headwall earns a Quokka slot, Doncaster placegetter off to Hong Kong, Waller's spring caution on Aeliana and champion New Zealand trots trainer Mark Purdon shows all-round skills.

Headwall
TJ Smith Stakes placegetter Headwall will have his next start in the $5 million Quokka at Ascot. (Photo by Jeremy Ng/Getty Images)

Quokka slot confirmed for Headwall after TJ placing

Sydney-trained Headwall will venture to the west in a bid to end a frustrating sequence of placings in Australia’s major sprint races.

Headwall has been selected for a slot in the $5 million Quokka after finishing third in the TJ Smith Stakes at Randwick on Saturday.

He will represent the Unibet-Chief Racing slot and is a $6 chance to break through for an important win after autumn that also includes a luckless run in the Oakleigh Plate and a placing in the Newmarket Handicap.

“We have been speaking to the Unibet-Chief Racing slot holders since his unlucky second in the Newmarket,” trainer Matthew Smith said.

“The owners and I are really looking forward to heading west for The Quokka after what he produced in Saturday’s TJ.

“The horse is flying at the moment and his run on Saturday at Group 1 weight-for-age level when not getting clear until late in the straight shows he can compete at that level.”

The Quokka will be run at Ascot on April 26 with the Bjorn Baker-trained Overpass the favourite to win the race for the third year in a row.

Sydney jockey Zac Lloyd will follow Headwall to Perth after having the TJ Smith ride.

Royal Patronage joins Mr Brightside in Hong Kong bid

Doncaster Mile runner-up Royal Patronage is almost certain to contest the Champions Mile in Hong Kong, giving Australia two runners in the $5 million race.

The Champions Mile has long been identified as a prime overseas target for Mr Brightside.

But it became a serious consideration for Royal Patronage after the import fell narrowly to Stefi Magnetica in a desperate Doncaster finish on Saturday.

Co-trainer Adrian Bott says Royal Patronage deserves his chance on the international stage in a move that will come at the expense of a start in the Group 1 All Aged Stakes at Randwick on April 19.

Royal Patronage has won twice since joining Tulloch Lodge, highlighted by his Group 1 victory in the Canterbury Stakes.

His Doncaster placing from a wide barrier followed a third to Ceolwulf in the Epsom Handicap - another prestigious Randwick mile race - during last year’s spring.

Waller adopts wait-and-see approach with Derby winner Aeliana

Chris Waller says ATC Australian Derby winner Aeliana is untapped but he is hesitant to commit his latest stable star to a spring Cups program.

In the aftermath of Aeliana’s 5-1/4 length Derby victory, Waller was at his conservative best when discussing the filly’s future.

"It's a big step," Waller told RSN927. "I call them four-year-old fillies. 

“They have turned mares, but they are so young and fragile to put them through a Caulfield and Melbourne Cup campaign.

"I just don't think the ones we have are ready for it as a whole and you could jeopardise the rest of their career, so we tend to give them an easier spring as a four-year-old, so time will tell."

Aeliana, a daughter of Arrowfield Stud’s Castelvecchio, became just the fourth filly in 70 years to beat the males in the Derby.

Waller said Aeliana, promoted to $8 Caulfield Cup favouritism after the Derby, was unlikely to contest the ATC Australian Oaks at Randwick on Saturday.

NZ harness legend Mark Purdon on the board as thoroughbred trainer

Champion harness racing trainer Mark Purdon turned his talents to the galloping code on Saturday at Ellerslie, winning his first thoroughbred race with Buster Shaw.

With over 2600 victories to his name preparing standardbreds, Purdon took on a new challenge in mid-2023, stepping into the thoroughbred industry in the South Island, before moving to his new base at Matamata. 

Fresh off a successful evening at the Night Of Champions in Cambridge on Friday, Purdon was relieved to get on the board in his new venture. 

“I don’t get too excited because I’m still learning, but I’ve had a lot of help from some of the trainers there (at Matamata). I must make mention of Andrew Scott and Lance (O’Sullivan), they’ve been really good to me.

“It’s been a help in preparing him.” 

Purdon races Buster Shaw alongside co-breeder Kerry Shaw, one of two gallopers he has in work. 

“If I was younger I would (have more horses) but I’ve left my run a bit late,” he said. 

“I’m enjoying my hobby. “He was given to me by Kerry Shaw who is a good friend, he encouraged me and there were times where I wasn’t sure whether I should be thanking him or cursing him, but he was really the turning point that got me involved.”

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