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By Tony Megahey

The fortunes of racing have finally aligned for Taree trainer Glen Milligan and his ex-Waller bargain buy Shihab ($15 into $12 on TAB) into Saturday’s Rosehill Garden’s TAB Highway.

Recently they were unlucky enough to run into Winx Guineas bound Know Thyself who was classes above Highway grade with the third biggest win in series’ history.

Shihab (Grant Buckley) parades at Newcastle. Image by Bradley Photographers

And given the massive wraps on one of the hottest prospects in racing, a five-length second by Shihab on heavy holds up sweetly for punters in a far easier $120,000 Class 3, 1500m.

And its no coincidence that Aaron Bullock, NSW premiership bound and the rider of Know Thyself, is aboard Shihab with 58kg. Both trainer and jockey are high in confidence.

“We knew about Know Thyself, but we had heavy off a win at home, and the right distance while he was eligible,” Glen explained.

“He ran some race from near last. You’d expect that form to hold up on heavy again and the extra distance.

“I’d intended to retain Josh Parr but he’s taking a break. I just took the odds, rang Aaron and his manager in case he didn’t have a ride in the race, thinking the form around Know Thyself had to appeal.

“Yep barrier one, hopefully heavy again, right jockey and distance.” However, Glen does have some reservations.

“Can be hit and miss; blinkers on, unreliable at the barriers and his pattern is to get back and it’s a big field on heavy. But I’ve got the right bloke on to work that out.”

Bullock reinforced that: “Know Thyself is a serious racehorse, we don’t know how good," he said.

“The way he extended was way beyond Highway grade, so a five-length second is no negative at all, happy to be on him,” offered Bullock.

“Watched the replay and he kept closing on the rails when we broke clear. Barrier one, wet tracker, we’ll be closer, and there's no Know Thyself!”

Meanwhile, Milligan bought the three-race winner for the right price when he was moved on by the Waller stable, unable to follow up on a Hawkesbury Maiden win in April last year on heavy.

“We bought him on-line for ten grand I think he was a $380,000 Magic Millions yearling, bred well enough - a Zoustar out of a Foxwedge mare.

“They only keep city grade but he’s been big value for us.”

Shihab has won twice for Glen, several placings and he couldn’t find a more suitable race than this country Class 3.

As several of the opposition finished well in arrears of him in the Know Thyself race. The unbeaten Cooee is expected to be withdrawn after drawing barrier 21.

At present 'The Gardens' is a Heavy 8 in fine weather.

View final fields with full form & race replays for Rosehill Gardens here