The jockey-trainer and the former Alice Springs horse out to stun Melbourne

Ben Dorries - Friday October 13

Shayne Cahill will have only one bloke to blame if the horse he trains cops a bad ride at Caulfield on Saturday. Himself.

Advertisement
Desert Lashes is the former Alice Springs horse aiming to get to the Group I Manikato Stakes with jockey-trainer Shayne Cahill

The Adelaide Cup winning jockey is a dual license holder in his home state and will not only saddle up mare Desert Lashes but ride her as well in the Group III Cape Grim Beef Steaks (1200m).

While plenty of English and Irish internationals will launch their spring campaigns at Caulfield on Saturday, $5 chance Desert Lashes has come a long way too.

As her name suggests, the four-year-old mare hails from the red centre of Australia where she was formerly trained by Lisa Whittle in Alice Springs.

She won eight in a row to start her career, including the Listed Redelva Stakes at Morphettville, with her only loss a narrow last start defeat at Morphettville.

She is now in the care of jockey/trainer Cahill who has set her on an ambition campaign.

Cahill, 42, reckons she will win at Caulfield on Saturday as part of a mission he hopes might see her force her way into the Group I Manikato Stakes field at Moonee Valley on October 27.

Desert Lashes currently sits 35th in the order of entry for the 14-horse Manikato field but Cahill reckons she has at least the same talent as fellow Adelaide galloper Viddora, who sits 22nd.

Regardless, Cahill reckons he has found a good jockey to ride her in Melbourne.

"If I happen to put in a bad ride on her, I won't have to get back to the mounting yard to cop abuse from the trainer … I am the trainer so I'll abuse myself while I'm still on the horse," Cahill quips.

"I took out my dual license since last year and while riding us still my main income, I would really like to make a career out of training.

"It is hard to do both because it is very demanding with the time management side of things and I'm always flat out.

"There are some funny moments though when I stand in the mounting yard in my silks waiting for instructions from the trainer, and then I realise I have to give myself the instructions."

Cahill hasn't ridden Desert Lashes in all of her Adelaide starts as he is happy to put other jockeys on board and he also can't ride under 56kg.

Cahill insists Desert Lashes has huge talent and he had nominated her for the Group I Goodwood at Morphettville in May before injury ended that campaign.

She almost pulled her hamstring off the bone but is now back to full fitness and Cahill, who won the 2012 Adelaide Cup aboard Rialya, feels his speedy mare will win at Caulfield on Saturday.

"She is a really good horse, a professional racehorse who is not hard to ride," Cahill said.

"I think this is a really winnable race for her and the black type would look good on her breeding resume in the future.

"If she wins this race it will give me some extra confidence about aiming for the Manikato.

"We might battle to get a run there – but I look at Viddora, who is higher than her in the order of entry and I really don't think there is much between them.

"If we don't get to the Manikato there might be another mares race around the corner for her."

Advertisment
More Reading...
Godolphin’s Lonhro Filly Proficient On Debut
From the penultimate crop of Darley’s Champion Sire Lonhro, the Ben, Will and JD Hayes trained 3yo filly Proficient started the race favourite, winning the Sportsbet Race Previews Plate (1000m) at Sandown Hillside in a fighting finish. 
Talented So You Think Mare Goes Two for Two
So You Think is setting the pace for winners this season as we head into October and one of those promising winners is talented four year-old mare Enamorada, who made it two wins in as many starts when saluting at Sandown on Wednesday as favourite.
Bryce Bevan Appointed Head of Digital at Magic Millions
Magic Millions' commitment to conduct online thoroughbred auctions has received a huge boost with today's announcement that Bryce Bevan has been appointed as Head of Digital.
Promising Victory For Too Darn Hot’s Ripley
Racing in the same Qatar Bloodstock coloured silks worn to victory on Friday night by West of Swindon (Wootton Bassett) in the Group 2 Stutt Stakes, 3yo Too Darn Hot colt Ripley highlighted his future potential with a two-length maiden victory at Rosehill on Wednesday.
420k NZ Ready to Run Purchase Looks the Goods
Progressive three-year-old Sulek notched his first victory when landing the MRC Foundation Pin & Win Plate (1400m) at Sandown on Wednesday for trainer Dominic Sutton.
Magic Trials at Caulfield Heath
Early season two-year-olds will step out this Thursday, 2 October, at the Caulfield Spring Trials presented by Magic Millions, with 800m 2YO heats following the opening trial for Group performers at 7:30am on the Caulfield Heath.
Sires With Winners - Wednesday October 1
Here is the full list of 49 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
King’s Legacy Filly Salutes for Yulong
The first stakes-winner for her sire King’s Legacy when winning the Group III SAJC David Coles AM Stakes (1200m) last season, Steel Trap was subsequently purchased by Yulong privately and she posted her first win in their colours at Sandown on Wednesday.
First Win for Storm Boy Half-Brother by Pierro
Progressive Pierro colt Shangri La Boy is a very different horse to his older half-brother Storm Boy and while that Group winning colt is covering his first book of mares at Coolmore this spring, this fellow is on his way with an impressive maiden win at Rosehill on Wednesday.
Hellbent Winner Impresses at Sha Tin
Astute trainer Mark Newnham paid $425,000 at the 2023 NZB Ready to Run Sale to secure a promising two year-old by Hellbent and Invincible Ibis delivered on that promise when scoring a last to first win at Sha Tin on Wednesday.