One has already proven himself at the elite level, the other continues to trend sharply upward.
Despite their contrasting resumes, Adrian Bott admits it is no easy task separating Major Beel and Shangri La Spring ahead of Friday’s Group 3 Summer Cup (2000m) at Randwick.
The pair last clashed in the ATC Cup (2000m) on November 29, where 2023 ATC Australian Derby winner Major Beel finished just ahead of his stablemate.
Both runners have been kept fresh since that outing, with Bott opting to space their runs as they head into Friday’s feature.
“They both came through the ATC Cup last start, and they’ve had a bit of time since then,” Bott said.
“We have tried to follow a similar formula for them going into this race.
“They’ve had a nice tick over trial, and both looked in good shape.
“There was plenty of merit to both their runs on the day and it’s going to be hard to split them again.”
Major Beel, now six, has added only two wins since his Derby breakthrough but has consistently tested himself in quality company, including a fifth placing in last year’s 7 Stakes (1600m) behind Fangirl.
His ATC Cup success snapped a 14-month drought and Bott said patience had finally been rewarded.
“Very satisfying. He has obviously been a great horse to us,” he said.
“Even though he’d been running well, he lacked a bit of consistency, or it had been hard to find the right conditions for him.
“Things worked out well for him last start and it’s a nice program to get both of them through to Magic Millions, potentially, off the back of it.
“They both look to have done fantastic. Conditions on the day, the draw and factors in running, that may be what splits them ultimately.”
An 11-horse field will line up for the Summer Cup, with topweight carried by The Ingham (1600m) runner-up Estadio Mestalla.
Markets for the Summer Cup are available via the Australian betting sites list.