Shamus Award – The Rise and Rise

Tara Madgwick - Sunday July 10

Having delved into the 2021 mare book for Cox Plate winning sire So You Think last week, we thought it would be interesting to investigate another Cox Plate winning sire and this one covered the dam of the world’s best sprinter last spring.

As a Cox Plate and Australian Guineas winner, Shamus Award was the Champion 3YO of his generation, but it’s really only been in the last year that the son of champion sire Snitzel has been given the respect he deserves as a sire.

The current season has been a particular eye opener with Shamus Award producing six stakes—winners, all of them Group winners and three of them Group I winners in Incentivise, Duais and El Patroness.

Shamus Award started his career at Widden Stud, but is now in Victoria with Rosemont Stud, who set his fee at $33,000 last spring.

Breeders were quick to sniff out a sire on the up, still priced at value and Shamus Award covered 216 mares making him the busiest sire in Victoria and the second busiest in the country behind only Capitalist.

The best is still to come for Shamus Award.

This year he has been priced more in keeping with his stature at $88,000 and will no doubt cover his best ever book of mares, but the foals in the pipeline for this year hold plenty of interest with one in particular set to garner international media attention.

A couple of the Group I producers covered by Shamus Award in the list below did not go in foal and Spectacula, (dam of dual Group I winner Global Glamour) sadly died in December last year.

Advertisement

We can however confirm that Nature Strip’s dam Strikeline is safely in foal and is due in late September.

STAKES WINNERS

Mare

Born

Country

Damsire

Best win

Mirjulisa Lass

2007

AUS

Danasinga

G1

Azkadellia

2011

NZ

Shinko King

G1

Vintedge

2005

AUS

Flying Spur

G2

Winterinthewoods

2005

SAF

Western Winter

G2

Tahanee

2012

ARG

Stormy Atlantic

G3

Ana Royale

2013

AUS

Anacheeva

G3

Fancy Feet

2009

AUS

Fath

G3

Hear The Chant

2013

AUS

Nicconi

G3

Pixilim

2013

BRZ

Agnes Gold

G3

Unchain My Heart

2006

AUS

Al Maher

Listed

Sweet Cheeks

2007

AUS

General Nediym

Listed

Sophia Babe

2006

AUS

Iglesia

Listed

Marveen

2005

AUS

Orientate

Listed

Blondie

2014

AUS

Reward For Effort

Listed

Cosmic Alert

2015

AUS

Star Witness

Listed

Scratchy Lass

2011

AUS

U S Ranger

Listed

Dance To My Tune

2004

CAN

Stravinsky

Listed

Its Time For Magic

2013

NZ

Per Incanto

Listed

STAKES PRODUCERS

Mare

Born

Damsire

Horse

Best Win

Strikeline

2000

Desert Sun

Nature Strip

G1

Admirelle

2003

General Nediym

Sizzling

G1

Condesaar

2004

Xaar

Yankee Rose

G1

Special Favour

2009

General Nediym

Mr Quickie

G1

Spectacula

2004

Testa Rossa

Global Glamour

G1

Sure You Can

2010

O'Reilly

El Patroness

G1

Generous Nature

2003

Carnegie

Savvy Nature

G2

Take All Of Me

2005

Jeune

I'Ll Have A Bit

G2

Attessa

2006

Belong to Me

High Seas Beauty

G3

Condesaar

2004

Xaar

Miravalle

G3

Crossyourheart

2004

Show A Heart

Swear

G3

Generous Nature

2003

Carnegie

Addictive Nature

G3

Hissy Miss

2003

Golden Snake

Glass Warrior

G3

Is It A Mosquito

2011

Bel Esprit

Swats That

G3

Love Of Liberty

2009

General Nediym

Ellsberg

G3

M'Lady Hallowell

2011

Wanted

Hoi An

G3

Miss Ethics

2003

Count Dubois

Ethical Solution

G3

Quietzer

2006

More Than Ready

Hear The Chant

G3

Sovereign Charm

2005

Show A Heart

Sovereign Award

G3

Baize

2008

Commands

Corner Pocket

Listed

Carolina Bella

2006

Zabeel

Mickey Blue Eyes

Listed

Cheers Rihanna

2009

General Nediym

Struck By

Listed

It's You

1999

Celtic Swing

Yourein

Listed

Lunar Lights

2005

Bianconi

Honey'S Steel Gold

Listed

Miss Encosta

2006

Encosta De Lago

Captain Duffy

Listed

My Tusker

2001

Volksraad

Game Keeper

Listed

Sophia Babe

2006

Iglesia

Final Salute

Listed

Special Mission

2004

Towkay

Redouble

Listed

Strikeline

2000

Desert Sun

The Barrister

Listed

SIRES OF DAMS COVERED BY SHAMUS AWARD (6 or more mares)

In this table we’ve had a look at the sires of these quality mares that have gone to Shamus Award and looked to see the success rate of the nick in terms of winner to runner and SW to runner.

The overall statistics for Shamus Award are 64.5% winner to runner and 7% SW to runner.

Broodmare Sire

Number of Mares

Winner to runner

SW to runner

Bel Esprit

12

75%

25% 1 SW 4 runners

More Than Ready (USA)

12

100%

40% 2 SW (1 G1) 5 runners

Encosta de Lago

8

60%

10% 1 SW 10 runners

General Nediym

8

75%

20% 2 SW (1 G1) 10 runners

Star Witness

8

20% 5 runners 1 winner

Savabeel

6

No runners

Advertisment
More Reading...
Sires With Winners - Thursday April 17
Here is the full list of 45 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Consecutive Hall Mark Stakes Wins For Mazu
Taking his earnings past $9m for Triple Crown Syndications, the Joe Pride trained Mazu (Maurice) hasn’t won since this meeting last year but put the writing on the wall at his last two starts before going back-to-back in the Group 3 ATC Hall Mark Stakes (1200m) at Randwick.
Too Darn Hot SW for Legend Racing
The colours of Bon Ho and his Legend Racing were in the winner’s circle in the UK overnight with three year-old Too Darn Hot (GB) gelding Glittering Legend taking out the Listed Burradon Stakes (1m) at Newcastle.
Spirit Of Boom Brings Up 30th Stakes Winner
Off the back of a last start 1200m victory at Eagle Farm, Tony Gollan’s 3yo gelding Boomtown Boss stepped up to 1400m for the first time in his career, taking out the Listed BRC Daybreak Lover to become the 30th stakes winner for Eureka Stud’s Spirit Of Boom.
Applications open for the 2025 Les Young Scholarship
Young professionals in the thoroughbred breeding industry have a unique opportunity to enhance their careers, with applications now open for the 2025 Les Young Scholarship.
Kiwi bred Jimmysstar Wins Crackerjack G1 All Aged
Former Kiwi galloper Jimmysstar has stamped himself as one of the most exciting sprinters in Australia with a brilliant victory in the Gr.1 All Aged Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on Saturday.
Yulong Chasing Another Oaks with Movin Out
Kiwi-bred filly Movin Out made a successful switch from Sydney racing to a tilt at Victorian riches when she came from well back to race to a dominant victory in the $150,000 Mornington Guineas (1600m) on Saturday.
Doctor Askar Wins G3 Easter Handicap
Saturday’s Gr.3 Manco Easter Handicap (1600m) at Ellerslie capped a rapid and popular rise to stardom for Waverley visitor Doctor Askar.
Gilgai Farm Bred and Sold Nepotism Another Inglis G1 Star
Outstanding colt Nepotism (Brutal) scored one of the most remarkable G1 wins by a 2YO on an Australian racetrack in recent memory, coming from last to secure a last-stride victory in today’s Champagne Stakes at Randwick.
The Instructor Delivers a Lesson in Listed Hareeba
Winner of the Listed MRC Blue Diamond Preview at two, four year-old Russian Revolution gelding The Instructor has had some lengthy spells in his career to date, but has been at his best since returning to racing this year and gave everything he had to cling on and win the $200,000 Listed Hareeba Stakes (1200m).