Durable, evergreen Whanganui-owned galloper Who Shot Thebarman has shown he is far from pension age just yet with a fast-finishing third in the Group 1 $A1.5 million Kia
Tancred Stakes (2400m) at Rosehill on Saturday.
The rising 10-year-old has the $A2 ATC Sydney Cup over 3200m on Saturday, April 14 as his immediate mission, but longer range is his fourth attempt at the $A6.2 million 2018
Lexus Melbourne Cup on the first Tuesday in November.
The nine-year-old stayer has proven a grand campaigner for Whanganui and Rangitikei farming brothers Humphrey, Dan, Michael and Shaun O'Leary and their spouses for the past six years his his last start third suggests he is far from a spent force despite advancing years.
In Saturday's Tancred, the 2016 Melbourne Cup winner Almandin ($3) forged to the front halfway down the straight and scored by 1¼ lengths from former Japanese stayer Ambitious ($21) with veteran Kiwi stayer Who Shot Thebarman ($61) a half head away third.
Who Shot Thebarman could have been a little unlucky not to finish a touch closer after being held up for a run in the straight but his effort to run third was outstanding, convincing trainer, expat Kiwi Chris Waller, to press on with Sydney Cup plans.