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By Ray Hickson

Trainer John O’Shea will be placing his trust in Jason Collett to produce his version of a ‘JMac special’ if he gives the green light for Getafix to take his place at Randwick on Saturday.

Trainer John O'Shea (Pic: Steve Hart)

The ‘if’ comes from O’Shea, who co-trains with Tom Charlton, wanting to examine how the TAB Handicap (1400m) will pan out for the emerging galloper who needs a certain kind of ride to produce his best.

That best was on show when he romped away almost six lengths clear of his rivals, in a Benchmark 72, at Kensington on June 25 in his first start since the Hawkesbury Guineas in early May.

O’Shea said James McDonald executed a perfect ride on Getafix and that’s the challenge ahead of Collett, who he says is an ideal replacement given the style of horse.

“He needs to be ridden properly and I’m not convinced he’ll get that opportunity from that gate so we’ll have a think about it,’’ O’Shea said.

“I think Jason will suit the horse, I’ll have a chat to him and see what he thinks and where he’ll get to in the run and that’ll determine whether we decide to run or not.

“He’s a very talented horse but he needs to be ridden with a smother and not exposed too early and if he gets that sort of ride he’s very effective.

“He hadn’t been getting the opportunity in his previous runs. I’d been adamant how I wanted him ridden and finally got someone to execute a race plan the way I wanted it done.”

Getafix, $2.50 with TAB on Wednesday, needs one more scratching to gain a start in the Benchmark 88 race but that seems a formality.

There’s no short term aim for the gelding with O’Shea suggesting the Magic Millions carnival on the Gold Coast in January is his first major target in the new season.

O’Shea says there’s a strong case to forgive Livin’ Thing going into the Petaluma Handicap (1100m) after nothing went his way in his unplaced run at Rosehill two weeks ago.

The three-year-old found himself spat out the back when the pack shuffled up in the first half of the race as favourite before running fifth behind King’s Secret.

While the race got away from him with that early check, Livin’ Thing produced a slick 10.86 from the 400m-200m (Punter’s Intelligence) among the third fastest last 600m (33.35) of the race and that pleased the trainer.

“He was badly interfered with and I think he will be much more effective at Randwick,’’ O’Shea said.

“I wasn’t disappointed in him, he got sucked out of it at the half mile and five and a half (1100m) at Rosehill is not ideal when that happens. He can bounce back for sure.”

It took comeback galloper Natural Deduction a couple of runs, one of them with plenty of excuses, before breaking through third-up and O’Shea hopes he can continue on in the Toyota Forklifts Handicap (1800m).

The gelding had over a year off the scene before resuming in early May and O’Shea was pleased to see things fall into place for him at Canterbury last month.

“He needed a good gate and a good ride and got that,’’ he said.

Getafix wins at Kensington on June 25

“I would have preferred ten furlongs for him but he will map well and give a good account of himself.”

John O’Shea on Captain Amelia (race 10): “She had no luck at Rosehill. She’s drawn to get a better run and if she can get a bit of luck late I wouldn’t be surprised if she got home over the top of them.”

All the fields, form and replays for Saturday’s Randwick meeting