Country superstar Shelby Sixtysix to take on the big runs at Royal Randwick

Only a few weeks ago, Shelby Sixtysix was beaten at the Sapphire Coast, his losing streak stretching nearly two years.

But at the famous Derby-Doncaster meeting on Day One of The Championships at Royal Randwick on Saturday, “Shelby” is sharing the stage with racing’s very best and the sport’s new cult hero shapes as the star of the show.

The Randwick raceday boasts so many highlights including the world’s two highest-rated sprinters, Nature Strip and Eduardo clashing again, Golden Slipper winner Fireburn continuing her Triple Crown quest, Hitotsu aiming for a rare Derby double and a Doncaster Mile field loaded with Group 1 winners.

The Championships are the “Grand Finals of Racing” and when Shelby Sixtysix was getting beaten in TAB Highways last month, it seemed his only chance of getting a start on Derby-Doncaster Day was if he squeezed into the field for the Country Championships Final, a race reserved for horses trained in rural regions.

But such has been Shelby’s Sixtysix’s remarkable rise through the sprinting ranks in recent weeks, trainer Danny Williams is preparing his gelding for another showdown with Nature Strip and Eduardo in the $2.5 million TJ Smith Stakes (1200m).

Shelby Sixtysix nearly pulled off one of the greatest upsets in Australian racing history when he ran a close second to Eduardo, with The Everest winner Nature Strip finishing third, in the Challenge Stakes earlier this month.

Since that extraordinary effort, Shelby Sixtysix has won the Group 3 Maurice McCarten Stakes and Group 1 The Galaxy to earn a start in the autumn carnival’s premier sprint race on Saturday.

Sydney’s continuing wet weather has resulted in a succession of heavy tracks in recent weeks which has given noted mudlark Shelby Sixtysix the opportunity to compete and beat the best sprinters in training.

The bush flyer, nicknamed the “Party Boy” because he turns up to race nearly every Saturday, has suddenly become one of the most popular horses in training after his emergence from virtual obscurity just a few weeks ago.

Goulburn-based Williams has spent his career working in racing but he’s suddenly become an overnight sensation due to the soaring media and public interest in Shelby Sixtysix.

“This experience has been unbelievable, it has taken me by surprise,’’ Williams said.

“I’ve been blown away by the number of requests for interviews I’ve received from the media. It has been very tiring, I don’t know how Chris Waller does it!

“But the level of support for ‘Shelby’ has been overwhelming, I actually felt a bit emotional thinking about it the other day.’’

Shelby Sixtysix’s rags-to-riches story is one of those romantic tales that captures the imagination of racing and sporting enthusiasts.

On Golden Slipper Day two weeks ago, the biggest roar from the crowd was for Shelby Sixtysix when he won the Group 1 The Galaxy.

Punters jumped on the “Shelby bandwagon” and backed him from $15 into $7 before his last start win, leaving bookmakers reeling.

“Shelby Sixtysix was an absolute disaster for us in The Galaxy,’’ TAB spokesman Andrew Georgiou said.

“He was easily our worst result when combining win bets and multis. I couldn’t believe the multis that were rolling through him.

“Overall, he was one of the most popular horses all day – not just at Rosehill but across the country. It was an absolute bloodbath for us.

“Most of what went on the horse was from your Mum and Dad punters, the rank and file punters, which highlights what a sensational story this is and emphasizes why Shelby Sixtysix is truly a ‘people’s horse’.’’

Shelby Sixtysix had a rare Saturday off from racing last weekend and it seems neither the horse nor his trainer knew what to do with themselves.

“I’m normally a very good sleeper but in the last few days it’s been playing on my mind that it doesn’t feel right two weeks between runs,’’ Williams said.

“It has been easy the last four weeks to train the horse. All I’ve had to do was keep him happy in the stable.

“We haven’t had a saddle on him apart from raceday for over a month but he came through his last run so well, I had to give him some pacework on Saturday morning.

“I asked the club if they would let me work the horse on the course proper every day this week and they have allowed me to do that.

“The horse is really well, I can’t wait for Saturday.’’

The Derby-Doncaster meeting on Day One of The Championships at Royal Randwick is always one of the truly great racedays and this Saturday will be no different as the nation’s best racehorses, trainers and jockeys compete for Group 1 glory.

But in the popularity stakes, Shelby Sixtysix is already streaks ahead.

Can you imagine the scenes across the course if Shelby Sixtysix looms as a winning chance in the TJ Smith Stakes?

Originally published as Country superstar Shelby Sixtysix to take on big runs at Royal Randwick