Shakey Diesel Ideally Drawn For Brisbane Cup

VETERAN Queensland dog man Peter O'Reilly believes box three is an ideal draw for his much improved galloper Shakey Diesel going into Thursday night's Group 1 Sky Racing Brisbane Cup Final (520m) at Albion Park.

Not that Peter is confident he can win the race, how can you be racing superstars the likes of Black Opium, Hooked On Scotch, Simon Told Helen and Oh Mickey. 

“But, it will be anyone's race and I can see a lot of trouble coming at the first turn,” he said.

Shakey Diesel caused a 100/1 boilover in the Super Sprinters at Albion Park on June 18 with Cup rivals Hooked On Scotch and Oh Mickey both unplaced behind him.

It followed the Shakey Jakey-Paint dog's victory in the Group 3 Rockhampton Cup.

“If you look at how the Cup final is drawn, there could be real trouble coming up at the first turn,” said Peter.

“I'm hoping my bloke can get through and lead while all that trouble is happening.

"But, he will need to be five in front to hold off those dogs.”

O'Reilly cannot remember if he has had a Group 1 finalist in the past.

But, Shakey Diesel making the Brisbane Cup final is no surprise to him.

“He's been a good dog for a long time, a very handy performer and always nice and sound,” he said.

“I bought him as a pup to put through the Ipswich Auction. He eventually finished second in that final.”

While Shakey Diesel finished second to Victorian superstar Black Opium in the Cup heats last week, beaten 12 lengths in a scorching 29.52, O'Reilly believes his dog's run was better than it looked.

“While everyone was watching Black Opium out in front, no one noticed that Shakey Diesel was getting into plenty of trouble behind her,” he said.

“He did a good job to finish second.

“He's drawn well for the final, but he will need some luck. Just being in it is a huge thrill.”

* Pic courtesy Box 1 Photography