Hobby trainer and first-time owners hoping for big thrill when Oxbridge faces crack field in provincial final

Former jockey Stephen Sheehy is hoping to land his biggest victory as a trainer when Oxbridge tackles a quality field in the $100,000 Skyracing.TV Provincial Championship Series Final (1400m). Oxbridge is one of four runners from Albany in the field of 16 that will contest the feature race at Belmont Park on Saturday. Sheehy has retired from race riding and turned his attention to training, with a small team of horses based in Albany. However, it will be a big thrill for Sheehy and owners Kelly and Jamie Belfield to saddle up a runner at a Saturday metropolitan meeting. Oxbridge is the first horse the Belfields have owned, and Sheehy said this series provided great opportunities for those in regional areas to have a taste of the big-time. “This is the first-time owner with Kelly and her husband,” Sheehy said. “So it’s really good for them to have a runner in town through this series. “They are going to go up and watch the horse on Saturday as well.” The six-year-old gelding won the Mt Barker heat of the series by two lengths over God’s Moment but has been unplaced in his past two runs in Albany and opened a $51 chance with TABtouch. Sheehy has had two wins with Oxbridge since he joined his yard. “I think he’s a rough each-way chance in the race,” he said. “It is nice for provincial people to get a chance to win a race in town and I’ve put Lisa Staples on, who is a really good provincial rider.” Staples will ride Oxbridge, who has 54.5kg and will jump from barrier eight in the final. Albany trainer Roy Rogers has Trevello and God’s Moment in the race, while Elite Fighter is the other Albany hope from the Liam O’Loughlin stable. Champion jockey William Pike will be aboard God’s Moment but has been dealt a blow, drawing gate 14. Elite Fighter is ideally drawn in barrier three after his win in the Albany heat three starts back, and Jarrad Noske picks up the ride. Starring Knight ($3) is the top weight in the race with 60kg for co-trainers Daniel and Ben Pearce and jockey Chris Parnham. The four-year-old was an impressive winner in the Northam heat of the series last month. Trainer Todd Harvey has Keep Attacking engaged after he won a heat at Pinjarra, while York heat winner Civvy Street will start for Sean and Jake Casey.