Shoals Books Royal Ascot Ticket

[Wandering Eyes]

The G1 Ubet Classic for fillies and mares over 1200m at Morphettville looked an open and deep affair but the Anthony Freedman trained Shoals (Aus) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) absolutely tore the field apart and romped home almost two lengths clear under Tim Clark. Although she broke smartly from her wide draw Clark elected to allow Shoals drift back through the pack as Missrock (Aus) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) and Its Been A Battle (Aus) (Nicconi {Aus}) matched strides up front. As they prepared to hit the straight the field fanned out and no one was wider than Shoals who began a sweeping run just as they turned. The 3-year-old showed a great burst of acceleration to hit the front 200 metres from home and she continued to extend all the way to the line. Secret Agenda (Aus) (Not A Single Doubt {Aus}) won the battle for second from Mica Lil (Aus) (Testa Rossa {Aus}) but in truth the winner was different class on the day. It was a third top level win for the filly and one that opened up the distinct possibility of a trip to Royal Ascot next month. “She’s an outstanding filly,” Anthony Freedman told Racing.com. “Three Group 1s out of 10 runs, not many do that. She was dominant today and it was a very good race, so she’s gone up a couple of levels and we’ll give Royal Ascot a lot of thought. We have to talk to [owners] John Messara and Jonathon Munz and if that is the decision then she’d fly out probably the end of May.”

Having enjoyed a four race winning streak from debut that included a victory in the G2 Percy Sykes S. at Randwick last April, Shoals then met with defeat when second in both the G2 Schweppes Thousand Guineas Prelude and the G1 Schweppes Thousand Guineas. She proved her class when taking the G1 Myer Classic at Flemington last November before a rare lapse saw her finish in rear in the G3 Kevin Hayes S. on her reappearance at Caulfield in February. Shoals then bounced back in style to win the G1 James Boag’s Premium Surround S. at Randwick in March and she will prove a tough nut for the European sprinters to crack should she make her way north next month.

Pedigree notes…

Coolmore’s Fastnet Rock (Aus) needs no introduction and The Broken Shore (Aus) (Hussonet), Shoals’ dam is another whose fantastic lineage has been well documented. Although she recorded just the solitary win, it was entirely likely that The Broken Shore would produce a top level winner given she is a half-sister to the highly influential Group 1 winners and champions Platinum Scissors (Aus) (Danehill), Redoute’s Choice (Aus) (Danehill) and Manhattan Rain (Aus) (Encosta de Lago {Aus}) not to mention the GSW Sliding Cube (Aus) (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}). The last named is proving an elite producer with her two runners Rubick (Aus) (Encosta de Lago {Aus}) and Echoes Of Heaven (Aus) (Encosta de Lago {Aus}) both stakes winners who have been placed at the highest level. With Arrowfield Stud bred Shoals being her first produce, The Broken Shore has some exciting stock waiting in the wings. Tides (Aus), a 2015 born full-sister to Shoals has yet to race and she delivered a full-brother in 2016 who was purchased by Anthony Freedman for A$2.3-million at Inglis last month. Her 2017 produce is also a colt, by Medaglia D’Oro. Click for the free arion.co.nz catalogue-style pedigree.

UBET Classic (Robert Sangster S.)-G1, A$1,002,120, SAJC, 5-05, f/m Open, 1200mT, 1:09.19, Soft.

1--SHOALS (AUS), 55.0, f, 3, by Fastnet Rock (Aus)
1st Dam: The Broken Shore (Aus), by Hussonet
2nd Dam : Shantha’s Choice (Aus), by Canny Lad (Aus)
3rd Dam: Dancing Show, by Nijinsky (CAN)
O-Pinecliff Racing (Mgr: J B Munz) & Arrowfield Pastoral Pty Ltd (Mgr: J M Messara); B-Arrowfield Pastoral Pty Ltd NSW; T-Anthony Freedman; J-Tim Clark; A$642,120. Lifetime Record:
10-7-2-0, A$2,004,270. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.

2–Secret Agenda (Aus), 56.5, m, 5, Not a Single Doubt (Aus)–Negotiate (Aus), by Red Ransom. (A$120,000 Ylg ’14 MMLJAN) O-Blueblood Thoroughbreds, Mrs L Lewis, S Misra, Ms K L Yorston, Dynasty No 11, J A Wilson, M P Heaney, W Winterburn, D A Marshall, S J Cosson, Mrs P A Cosson, Island Sands, T D Parr; B-Arrowfield Pastoral Pty Ltd & Planette Thoroughbred NSW; T-M G Price; J-D Oliver; A$170,000.

3–Mica Lil (Aus), 56.5, m, 4, Testa Rossa (Aus)–Gemstone (NZ), by Pentire (GB). (A$55,000 Ylg ’15 MMLJAN) O-N J House, S N Jones, Mrs J V Short, J M & P J Gray, J A Smith, Mrs M B Gibb, Mrs E E Taylor, I N Dally, J W Ray, D W Trott, M & P Bock, S Bosley, B Cefai, S Johns, R Searle, J Doy; B-Mr A Galbraith NSW; T-M S Minervini; J-S Cahill; A$80,000.

Margins: 1.8, 2.8, 2.9. Odds: 11/1, 17/2, 90/1.
Also Ran: True Excelsior (NZ), Whispering Brook (Aus), Mystified (Aus), Catchy (Aus), Missrock (Aus), Quilista (Aus), Legless Veuve (NZ), Super Cash (Aus), Pedrena (Aus), Dainty Tess (Aus), Formality (Aus), Tulip (Aus), Miss Gunpowder (Aus), It’s Been a Battle (Aus). Click for the Racing Post result

 

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