Shenandoah is Lady's first in Coolmore
Michael Lee
Exciting filly Lady Shenandoah answered all the questions over her bid to beat older mares in the Group 1 Coolmore Classic (1,500m) on March 15, while under sufferance at the weights.
Even her famous trainer Chris Waller had thought long and hard about starting the Snitzel three-year-old in a fillies and mares race that had favoured the latter, more so when the handicapper slapped the then four-time winner and dual-Group 1 winner with 54.5kg.
Facts and figures were against her. Typhoon Tracy was the last filly to win the Coolmore Classic in 2009, albeit carrying only 51kg.
One has to go further back in time (another 12 years) to see a victor shouldering 54.5kg or more - Assertive Lass who won weighted at 55.5kg in 1997.
In the end, Waller winged it, scratched Lady Shenandoah from the Group 2 Phar Lap Stakes (1,500m), run on the same day, to add even more firepower for a four-pronged attack in the A$1 million (S$842,000) race.
Punters love some chutzpah in racing, as they backed Lady Shenandoah off the map into $9.
Not only were they and Waller proven right, but such is the depth of the Sydney multiple-champion trainer's arsenal that he would have snagged the trifecta if not for Golden Slipper heroine Lady Of Camelot wedging herself into third place to thwart the juggernaut.
A carbon copy of the finish of the Group 1 Surround Stakes (1,400m) on March 1 was on the cards when Lady Shenandoah (James McDonald), surging off centre-field from the 800m, collared Lady Of Camelot (Tim Clark) halfway up the Rosehill Gardens straight.
Once again, Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott's filly did not take it lying down when she was headed.
On the outside, a change to the script flashed home in the shape of Lady Shenandoah's less-fancied stablemate Firestorm (Tyler Schiller), but the Group 2 Millie Fox winner missed out by a head.
Lady Of Camelot hung on for third another half-length away, a gallant effort considering she punched the breeze three wide throughout, while Waller's Olentia (Jason Collett) was fourth a fair gap away.
Waller's fourth runner Scarlet Oak (Zac Lloyd) ran 11th, but it is unlikely that only blemish would ruin yet another red-letter day for the Kiwi trainer.
Lady Shenandoah handed him a third Coolmore Classic win in a row, after Espiona (2023) and Zougotcha (2024), who also had McDonald aboard.
"J-Mac", as he is affectionately called, has now combined with Waller for 45 Group 1 successes - which is about half of McDonald's 86 such wins domestically, and a quarter of the trainer's staggering record of 174 Group 1 wins.
"It was a great ride from the draw to get in the spot that he did. And that saved a bit of petrol for late," said Waller, yet again grateful for McDonald's contribution to his success.
"Pre-race wasn't perfect, it was a warm day. She had a bit of sweat, which scared me a little.
"But every task we've set for her, she delivers. She loves a fight.
"She beat the older mares today carrying a bit of weight."
McDonald echoed the same jitters at the 200m when the now three-time Group 1 winner looked a sitting duck.
"She wasn't entitled to win, she was all out at the 100m. She was worked up prior to the start, which was a bit of a concern," said the New Zealand-born jockey.
"We were able to just have a couple of minutes where she took her breath right at the start.
"She began that well and fitted in, she showed her fighting qualities.
"She's pretty good, she's doing the right things, anyway."
manyan@sph.com.sg
