Schwarz to muscle up in Doomben 10,000

By Glenn Davis

The training partnership of John O'Shea and Tom Charlton is hoping the form line from the Group 1 William Reid Stakes at Moonee Valley stacks up in the Doomben 10,000 on Saturday.

The Sydney-trained Schwarz will join an elite group if he can repeat the feat of sprinters who have won the Doomben 10,000 and William Reid double since the Group 1 Brisbane feature switched to Weight for Age in 1997.

Apache Cat achieved the feat in successive years in 2008 and 2009 while the Tony Gollan-trained Spirit Of Boom was successful in both races in 2014.

A handful of others have used the William Reid Stakes as a lead-up to the Doomben 10,000 including Melbourne sprinter Bel Esprit, who won in 2003, while last year’s Doomben 10,000 winner Bella Nipotina also ran in the William Reid when she finished fourth to Imperatriz.

A winner of the Group 2 Missile Stakes at Randwick last year and the Group 2 Australia Stakes at Moonee Valley in January, Schwarz is a $7 chance in the latest Doomben 10,000 markets.

Co-trainer O’Shea is hopeful Schwarz can follow William Reid Stakes history in his Doomben 10,000 swansong despite an awkward barrier of 11.

“The barrier is okay and it’s better than one,” O’Shea said.

“Drawing inside doesn’t suit his racing pattern and his work has been fantastic.

“The form out of the William Reid has been exceptional so he’s a chance of winning another Group 1.”

Schwarz was a $1.25 million yearling buy as a yearling and was a multiple stakes-winner before claiming his maiden Group 1 win in the William Reid in March.