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By Ray Hickson

Trainer John O’Shea can see advantages in stakeswinning three-year-old Bend The Knee’s inside barrier for Wednesday’s Listed $150,000 Sneddon Bros Gosford Guineas (1200m).

While the colt’s major immediate goal is next month’s Magic Millions over 1400m, O’Shea is confident he can make a positive return from his short hiatus since his last start Listed win on November 6 and will take any head start given to him.

“Despite the fact he only had a short break he really did well, physically developed particularly well,’’ O’Shea said.

“He’s come back in good order and he looks to have trialled well. I think barrier one at Gosford is better than eight so I’m happy enough with it.”

Bend The Knee, who races in O’Shea’s stable star Lost And Running’s colours, had his pipe opener at Canterbury last Tuesday and finished sixth in an 885m trial under James McDonald.

In-form hoop Brock Ryan, fresh from a double at Randwick on Sunday including the Group 3 Summer Cup, takes the ride at Gosford.

O’Shea said although he believes 1400m will be the colt’s pet trip he would expect Bend The Knee, $6.50 with TAB on Tuesday, to be competitive.

“He’s only had one go in the blinkers and was pretty decisive so we are happy with where he’s fitting in,’’ he said.

“Brock’s been doing a bit of work for us, we’ve always had a good appreciation for his ability. A good young jockey in form is a big help.”

Bend The Knee's trial at Canterbury on December 21

One of the more interesting runners at Gosford is ex-Kiwi three-year-old Sneaky Shark who hasn’t raced since chasing home subsequent Group 1 winner On The Bubbles in the Karaka Million back in January.

Since joining O’Shea from Jamie Richards the gelding, who resumes in the Narara Plumbing Plate (1100m), has been taken along slowly with a trial in August and two more in the past month but the trainer is a little on the cautious side.

“To be fair New Zealand two-year-old form is found a little bit wanting but he’s a nice horse and I thought his trials have been good,’’ he said.

“He has a good draw, he’s ready to run a race but it’s not a bad maiden.”

Dual acceptor King Of Spades is a horse O’Shea is quick to forgive for his last start defeat at Wyong.

The gelding, also accepted in Canberra, was $10 with TAB on Tuesday in the Joker & The Thief Terrigal Handicap (1600m) and the trainer warns he’s capable of much better than his sixth beaten 2.9 lengths back on December 15.

King Of Spades, with Chad Schofield to ride at Gosford, was beaten two lengths or less at his previous two starts at Hawkesbury.

“The other day everyone had him disappointing, I thought he had a genuine excuse,’’ O’Shea said.

“The fence was completely off. He led up, and the market was respectful of his chances, on a blouser’s track. I wouldn’t be too hard.”

All the fields, form and replays for Wednesday’s Gosford meeting