home  > Latest News Items > March 2002, Item 05.

Main News Desk 

Back

Trainer Bob Thomsen will resist another trip to Hong Kong with Shogun Lodge and target the Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Randwick on April 13 before he sends his luckless star for a spell.

Shogun Lodge, Sunline and Universal prince have been invited to run in the Queen Elizabeth II Cup at Sha Tin on April 21 but it appears only Universal Prince will make the trip.

However Thomsen is looking to the spring with Shogun Lodge and wants to give his five-year-old a good spell after he ends his autumn campaign at Randwick on Saturday week.

“Shogun Lodge has not had a proper spell for some time and I want to give him as along as possible in the paddock before the spring,” Thomsen told RacingandSports.

“He will be set for the Cox Plate and then we will have another look at Hong Kong in December.”

Shogun Lodge recorded his 11th second placing in a G1 race when he just failed to run down Sunline in last Saturday’s $2.5 million Doncaster Handicap at Randwick.

Shogun Lodge finished second in last year’s Doncaster before making amends with a victory in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes, one of his three G1 wins.

Sunline will be nominated for next Saturday's $400,000 All-Aged Stakes at Randwick but a decision on whether she runs won't be made until midweek. 

"We'll nominate for the All-Aged and she'll let us know whether she should run," trainer Trevor McKee said on Sunday.

"But it's always one race at a time with her. There are a lot of options." 

Universal Prince is booked to be flown to Hong Kong next Monday for the first leg of his ambitious overseas campaign.
He is set to return to Australia via Singapore here he will run in the International Cup at Kranji on May 13.


By Chris Scholtz

TBA Latest News Items

Thoroughbred Breeders Australia News Headlines