A standout performer over major two-year-old events through the 2014 Sydney Autumn Carnival, trainer John O’Shea has revealed Earthquake is unlikely to take a position in the featured Group 1 Golden Rose Stakes (1400m) on September 13^th, with Darley more likely to enter leading male prospects.

Trainer John O'Shea has revealed Earthquake is unlikely to contest the 2014 Golden Rose. Photo: Steve Hart

Charging home to win the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield Racecourse on February 22^nd, Earthquake continued to build in form and class on her way to a hard-fought second to Mossfun in the major Group 1 Golden Slipper (1200m) most recently on April 5^th.

Confirming the 2014 Golden Rose will remain an option for the Exceed And Excel filly, O’Shea told TVN the rising three-year-old is more likely to be geared towards one of both of the Group 1 Flight Stakes or Group 1 Thousand Guineas; both run over a mile in October.

“(The Golden Rose) is an option for us but the reality is that if one of the colts is going well she won’t run in it and we do have three nice colts set for the race,” O’Shea said.

“I’m still learning about her, Kerrin (McEvoy, jockey) continues to tell me she has never been an in your face filly at home and that would describe her adequately.

“She goes about her business quite relaxed, she seems to be a happy filly which is pretty much what we are all about at the moment.

“We’ll probably get her to the trials in a couple of weeks and see what happens after that.”

Debuting with a resounding victory in the Colin Pearce 100^th Birthday Plate (1000m) on November 9^th last year, Earthquake returned to racing in 2014 with a similarly impressive run for first in the Group 3 Blue Diamond Prelude F (1100m) before overcoming a poor draw to win the Blue Diamond Stakes.

Securing another resounding victory in the Group 2 Reisling Stakes (1200m) on March 22^nd, the filly out of Cataclysm carried clear favouritism into the 2014 Golden Slipper, but was unable to match the late pace of wet-weather specialist Mossfun, who claimed victory by close to a length.

Offered a legitimate chance of 2014 Golden Rose success via a few male options, O’Shea is likely to prepare Group 2 Todman Stakes (1200m) champion Ghibellines for the Rosehill Gardens feature, with Meursault and Sarajevo also figuring as credible options for the new Darley trainer.

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