From TBV News- Blondie, named for her striking blonde mane, is by Chatswood Stud's Reward For Effort, and is out of the two-time city-winning General Nediym mare Divine Princess.
The O'Sheas are great supporters of the Victorian breeding industry and love
nothing more than seeing their homebreds achieve success on the track."We live and breathe horses – we breed them, race them and love them," Andy said.
The O'Sheas place most of their homebreds with Caulfield based trainer Brendon McCarthy, who said the key to the filly's victory was bringing her back in distance and freshening her up.
"I was very confident, as she worked beautifully on Tuesday. It was the only gallop she had in between runs, but it was the gallop of a horse that was really ready to go," McCarthy said.
Andy O'Shea holds the flashy chestnut close to his heart after he helped deliver her safe and sound during a difficult foaling.
"I had just had a stroke, so I should have been taking it easy, but my (farm) manager and I both had to jump on the end of the rope and pull like hell," he said.
"Not only did I breed her, I pulled her out. I brought her into this world – she had great big gangly legs, like a spider, but she was just beautiful."
Blondie will now head to the Group 3 Red Roses over 1100 metres down the Flemington straight on Oaks Day.
"She is very strong down the straight, it will be a nice race for her. We hope Shinn will stay on, and we will decide after the run to race on, or send her to the paddock. Either way she will be a lovely filly in the Autumn," O'Shea said.
Andy O'Shea has a long history of being associated with famous horses, with his first racehorse Hula Warrior, a Listed winner at Flemington and amassing more than $180,000 in stakemoney.
The O'Sheas were then fortunate to purchase a son of Kenmare for only $65,000 spotted by good friend and bloodstock agent Kevin Dagg. He raced under the name of Keltrice and most famously won the 1994 Group 1 Lightning Stakes
"He was an absolutely magnificent yearling, he had an aura. There was something special about him," Andy said.
Retired to stud in 1995 with nearly half a million in stakes to his name, Keltrice was a consistent sire, and the O'Sheas have cheered home several of his winners.
"As a stallion owner, I loaded up with nice broodmares. I still have the bloodlines, and it's paying massive dividends."
Unfortunately, O'Shea has battled poor heath after multiple strokes in recent years, but it hasn't let it stop him doing what he loves, continuing to breed and race horses.
"My health is better now, and we have made a lifestyle choice to move to a smaller property. We sold our 97 acres at Lang Lang and downsized to a manageable 40 acres in Somers on the Mornington Peninsula. The property is just beautiful, lightly stocked with quality mares and their progeny. I now need to look after my health and enjoy my horses."
O'Shea is a very strong supporter of the Victorian breeding industry, having stood his galloper Regal Shot as a stallion and he is also shareholder in Reward For Effort.
"Divine Princess is my life long foundation mare. She has now produced four winners, three multiple city winners, two Group runners, and a Listed winner, and she has a magnificent Toronado foal at foot," Andy said.
But the success of his broodmare band and most recently Blondie, hasn't got Andy or the team sitting on their laurels.
The work continues this week…
"I am actually driving her up to Phil Campbell's Blue Gum Farm tomorrow to be covered by Manhattan Rain, along with two other good mares, Petite Briefs and Oh So Petite." - TBV News
