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By John Schell

Promising galloper Forest King will put his spring credentials on the line when he spearheads a three-pronged attack by co-trainers John O’Shea and Tom Charlton’s stable on Thursday’s Gosford meeting.

An impressive winner on debut at Canterbury back in February, Forest King holds a nomination for the Group 1 Golden Rose to be run at Rosehill at the end of September.

He will line up in Thursday’s Steinbok C,G&E Benchmark 64 Handicap (1200m) with Tommy Berry taking the ride.

Trainer John O'Shea (Pic: Steve Hart)

“He’s a nice three-year-old with plenty of upside,” O’Shea said of Forest King.

“His win at Canterbury at his first start was full of merit, so much so that we stepped him straight up to Group 3 company in the Pago Pago Stakes in the lead-up to the Golden Slipper.”

Forest King finished seventh in the Pago Pago behind Warwoven and went out for a spell following that event.

“He had a good break and came back and had a couple of trials before resuming at Rosehill with a sixth in a Saturday grade race,” said O’Shea.

“He’s come through that race well and he should run really well at Gosford. He has the ability to go on to better races, so we’ll assess that after we get through Thursday’s run.”

Berry will also partner O’Shea and Charlton’s other runner at Gosford with Iniesta contesting the Tradies Race Day 28 Aug 2026 4YO & Up Maiden Plate (1200m).

“Iniesta has only had the three starts. He hasn’t managed to get into the placings, but he has trialled very well on a number of occasions,” O’Shea said.

“He resumed the other day at Hawkesbury and has come through that run well. With the benefit of race fitness, he can improve.”

Berry has two other rides at Gosford with the mount on the Bjorn Baker first starter Temptation awaiting in the Deltacorp Remedial Super Maiden Handicap (1100m) and the Kim Waugh prepared Skyrise in the Coastwide Waterproofing Supplies Provincial Maiden Plate (1000m).

Temptation has impressed winning each of two trials and Berry was in the saddle in the latest of them at Rosehill.

All the fields, form and replays for Thursday's Gosford meeting