Moira and Kieran Murdoch will have runners in three of the $60,000 ITM/Gib Winter Championship Finals at Ruakaka on Saturday, including a recent recruit who appears to be back on top of his game.

Shamus was previously a six-time winner up to Group Two level for New Plymouth trainer Allan Sharrock, who suggested he move to the Murdochs for a change of scenery earlier this year. Fifth and fourth in his first two appearances for his new stable, the Shamexpress gelding returned to his best form with a bold last-start win in the Northpine Waipu Cup (1400m) at Ruakaka on June 29.

Shamus will line up in the ITM/Gib Sprinters’ Winter Championship Final (1400m) over the same course and distance on Saturday.

“It was a very pleasing performance from Shamus last start,” Murdoch said. “He ran really well that day. Claiming 2kg off his back obviously made a big difference, and I think he appreciated the drier track too.

“He’s been ticking over really nicely since that race. We’ll head up there again on Saturday and see how he goes. It’s a better field this time, but you’d expect that for a final. We’re happy with the build-up that he’s had.”

Shamus was ridden to his last-start success by Ace Lawson-Carroll, who will switch from friend to foe on Saturday and will instead partner Malt Time for his employers Shaun and Emma Clotworthy.

“We’ve had to find a replacement because Ace is obviously committed to Malt Time, but I think we’ve got a good replacement in Triston Moodley,” Murdoch said. “He’s riding well and can claim 3kg.”

The TAB rates Malt Time a $2.50 favourite for Saturday’s feature sprint, with Turn The Ace at $4, Master Brutus at $4.60 and Shamus at $7.50.

The Murdochs’ representative in the ITM/Gib 3YO Winter Championship Final (1600m) is the promising Full Noise.

The son of Turn Me Loose kicked off his career at Te Rapa on May 18, where he finished a close fourth over 1100m. Both of his subsequent starts have been at Ruakaka, where he found the line well for third placings behind the unbeaten Dan Vegas on June 8 and June 29.

With Dan Vegas absent from the line-up for Saturday’s 3YO Final, the TAB rates Full Noise a $5 equal favourite alongside Tide And Time.

“All of his runs have been full of merit,” Murdoch said. “He seems to be improving with each run.

“I’ve been very happy with him since his last race, and I think that the step up to the mile on Saturday will suit him.”

The other runner at Ruakaka on Saturday for the Murdochs is Loose Change in the ITM/Gib Progressive Winter Championship Final (1600m) – a race for horses with no more than one win at nomination time.

Loose Change is still a maiden after 17 starts, but he has recorded six placings and produced an eye-catching finish for fifth at Ruakaka two weeks ago.

“Although he’s still a maiden, he’s run a number of very good races,” Murdoch said. “He drew the second-from-outside gate last time, so we decided to ride him quietly and he came home extremely well. He’s drawn better this time (gate seven), so hopefully he can settle a little bit closer and still produce that big finish.”

Loose Change is rated a $9.50 chance in a market headed by The Exponent ($3.90), Awhina ($5.50) and Talentoso ($6).