Highly-focused after ‘cruellest cut’

AS A male you can consider it the cruellest cut of all, but for promising type Allshookup the procedure has transformed him into a well-focused racehorse.

Racing solidly with three wins and two placings from nine starts as a colt last season, Allshookup was gelding during his break.

Given plenty of time to recover, Allshookup is unbeaten from two outings this campaign, with trainer Shayne Eeles noting the change in the son of A Rocknroll Dance.

“He has really calmed down a lot since being gelding and has more focus,” Eeles said. “If anything I was worried he became a bit lazy.

“He wasn’t really setting the world on fire with his track work, which had me a little worried when he was first-up.

“But he’s been a different horse at the track by comparison and I’m very happy with where he is at.”

In what shapes as a busy few days for the four-year-old, Allshookup is set to race in Bendigo tonight before returning to the same venue on Saturday night.

Drawn wide in barrier six for his immediate assignment, Allshookup will come from eight during the weekend.

To be driven by Chris Alford, Allshookup’s first contest is over 1650 metres before stepping up to 2150 metres.

“The draw is a little tough over the short trip tonight, but I give him a good chance,” Eeles said. “He’s still not 100 per cent fit, but has been improving after every run.

“He’s always been a tubby thing and a good doer, which is why I’m not concerned about backing him up again on Saturday night.

“With the right run and touch of luck he is capable of winning both, whether that happens, we’ll have to wait and see.”