OLIVIA Shannon has done nearly everything right in her first career campaign except for one thing: Win a race.
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Trained by Bathurst's Peter Bullock, the Live Or Die filly has finished runner-up on three occasions - all by half a length or less.
She comes into the closing event of this Wednesday's Bathurst Paceway meeting, the Tab.com.au Two Year Old Pace (1,730 metres), with a very commendable sixth against a classy NSW Breeders Challenge Semi-Final field.
Olivia Shannon ran far better than the $126 odds next to her name on that occasion, meaning she commands attention in her drop down to 2CO grade.
"We're really happy with her. We thought she went really well in that semi-final. She didn't quite get there and the bad draw definitely didn't help her," Bullock said.
"We gave her a lot better chance than what her odds suggested.
"We've always liked her although we didn't have a huge opinion of her at first, but she's just kept improving with every run."
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Saturday's run at Menangle was her first venture away from her home track.
Her run was one spot shy of earning a place in this weekend's final but she is on standby as emergency should anyone pull the pin.
In Wednesday return home she will start from gate three.
Bullock said he will leave it up to driver Amy Rees to decide where to place her over the opening lap.
"We're not really sure how it will play out," he said.
"She's not been driven out in front although she has finished second a couple of times with tough runs outside the leader."
Bullock still has Regional Breeders Challenge on his radar later on in Olivia Shannon's campaign.
Wednesday's racing starts at 5.04pm.