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O'Shea after third Villiers

John O'Shea John O'Shea Image: gettyimages

By Mandy Cottell

SYDNEY, Dec 15 AAP - The Villiers Stakes is a race close to the heart of John O'Shea.

It was eleven years ago that Grey And Gold won the summer feature, delivering O'Shea his first Group victory as a trainer.

He had not long taken out his licence and while he has since gone on to establish himself among the top echelon, he hasn't forgotten where he began.

"I remember it like it was yesterday," O'Shea said.

"Any of the Randwick miles, be it either with Group or Group One status, have a lot of prestige."

O'Shea added another Villiers (1600m) to his resume with On A High in 2003 and on Saturday will chase his third when he saddles up pre-post favourite Lightinthenite.

But this time will be a little different.

With Randwick shut down for major renovations, the Villiers has been moved from its traditional home to Warwick Farm.

It will be a tighter, less testing course and that is O'Shea's one concern.

"It changes the complexion of the race," O'Shea said.

"There's no doubting my horse would be more effective at the Randwick mile and probably that's the one conundrum we've got no control over.

"We just have to hope he is capable of handling it."

Lightinthenite is the up-and-coming horse in the race and signalled his Villiers credentials with a closing second to Monton in the Festival Stakes (1500m).

O'Shea elected to bypass a spring campaign to concentrate on the Villiers, partly because the four-year-old wasn't seasoned enough for Melbourne but also because the winner of Saturday's race is exempt from a Doncaster Mile ballot.

"It's one of the reasons why we've targeted the Villiers," O'Shea said.

"If he wins on the weekend he'll have two runs into the Doncaster."

Lightinthenite has drawn barrier 10 and will be ridden by the in-form Christian Reith.

He will carry the 52kg limit and O'Shea agrees with punters that his charge gets plenty of ticks.

"I think he meets the right profile for a horse competing in this race," O'Shea said.

"Take out his second-up run where he probably had a genuine excuse and all his runs have been excellent.

"He's shown very good consistency and his pedigree suggests a mile won't be an issue.

"He had a good lead-up race. If you take into account he comes in well at the weights there's a few things to like about him."

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