One To Watch - Geelong

Mark Smith - Sunday September 3

The Shamus Award filly Served Cold built on her debut fourth over 1300m at Sandown on August 28 to break her maiden impressively over 1700m at Geelong on Sunday.

An easy watch for favourite backers (image Reg Ryan/Racing Photos)

Ridden by Blake Shinn for Danny O’Brien, Served Cold took the step up to 1700m in her stride, befitting a sister of the 2022 ATC Australian Oaks heroine El Patroness.

Caught three wide for the first half of the race before taking a position outside of the leader Relentless Ruby, Served Cold took the lead before the home turn. Left in front a long way out, She hit the line strongly to defeat the Impending gelding Gawnski by one and a half lengths, with the Lonhro filly Relentless Ruby a further three lengths back in third.

Like El Patroness, Served Cold is a homebred for Balmerino Racing Partnership, who races her in partnership with Brae Sokolski’s Yes Bloodstock and a host of others, including AFL stars Jarryd Roughead, Jack Gunston and Liam Shiels.

“She’s continued to mature and learn throughout the preparation, and she takes everything in her stride,” O’Brien Racing’s stable manager Jack Howard said.

“She still has a few rough edges that need smoothing out, but there is a nice motor that, if we can harness, then there will be fun for everyone.

“Her sister El Patroness is an Oaks winner, and she has a similar profile. There is the Oaks trial at Flemington, and dare we dream of getting her to the Thursday of Cup week (Victoria Oaks).

Blake Shinn has a lot of time for the daughter of Shamus Award.

“She has a lot of class, this girl,” Shinn enthused.

“She has a lot of stamina, and that is what we came here hoping to see.

“Danny is a magician at setting horses on the Oaks and Derby paths. He knows what it takes, and he has identified this one.

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“She ticks a lot of boxes. She has the pedigree and the physique for a VRC Oaks. She could have gone another lap today.”    

It is a timely win for O’Gorman Racing, who will offer a Puissance De Lune (IRE) half-brother to Served Cold and El Patroness at the Inglis Ready2Race Sale on October 19.

The colt was a $130,000 pinhook from the Widden Stud draft at the 2023 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.

Their dam is the talented O'Reilly mare Sure You Can.

Purchased by Danny O Brien for $100,000 at the 2012 NZB Premier Yearling Sale, Sure You Can is a sister to Group III Tasmanian Derby winner Betwixt, dam of Group 1 Queensland Oaks winner Provocative (Zabeel).

Still looking a bit winterly but plenty under the bonnet (image Reg Ryan/Racing Photos)

Sure You Can is also a half-sister to Group II ARC Avondale Guineas and Group II Auckland Guineas winner Surely Sacred, who placed in the 2019 ATC Australian Derby won by Angel Of Truth.

After foaling a Shamus Award colt, Sure You Can revisited the Rosemont Stud stallion last spring.

It’s been a productive weekend for Shamus Award, whose first crop son Irish Songs, turned back the clock to capture the Listed Eureka Stud Tattersall's Members Cup (1400m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday.

With his third stakes success, the sprightly 8yo gelding is a win away from cracking $1million in earnings. 

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Race Result - Rex Gorell Volkswagen Mdn Plate 1700m

Geelong Track: Good(3) Time: 1:43.32
1
Served Cold
- 3f Shamus Award (AUS) x Sure You Can (NZ) (O'reilly (NZ))
Tnr: D T O'Brien Rdr: B Shinn 56
Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale $260,000
Seller: Widden Stud, Widden Valley
Buyer: O'Brien Thoroughbreds (Aust) Pty Ltd
2
1.5
Gawnski
- 3g Impending (AUS) x Fascinating (AUS) (Choisir (AUS))
Tnr: Jason Warren Rdr: D W Stackhouse 58
3
4.5
Relentless Ruby
- 3f Lonhro (AUS) x Thunder Lady (NZ) (Mastercraftsman (IRE))
Tnr: Andrew Forsman Rdr: Damian Lane 56
4
5.0
Shinjuku
- 3g Tarzino (NZ) x Singa Songa (AUS) (General Nediym (AUS))
Tnr: M Price & M Kent Jnr Rdr: Jye McNeil 58
5
6.5
Pariah Pearl
- 3f Pariah (AUS) x Ocean Challenger (AUS) (Rubiton (AUS))
Tnr: T Busuttin & N Young Rdr: D Moor 56
6
13.5
Mercante
- 3g Dundeel (NZ) x Breccia (NZ) (Fastnet Rock (AUS))
Tnr: N A Blackiston Rdr: R Downey 58
7
13.9
Deliciosa
- 3f All Too Hard (AUS) x Delectable Dora (AUS) (Mossman (AUS))
Tnr: Maddie Raymond Rdr: Ms L J Meech 56
8
14.6
Black Autumn
- 3g Fiorente (IRE) x Kirstenbosch (AUS) (Quest For Fame (GB))
Tnr: R E Laing Rdr: Ethan Brown 58
9
15.9
Englewood
- 3c Shamus Award (AUS) x Newstar Lass (AUS) (Royal Academy (USA))
Tnr: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes Rdr: M J Dee 58
10
19.9
Golden Artifact
- 3c Gold Standard (AUS) x Classic Kitten (AUS) (Kitten's Joy (USA))
Tnr: T J Andrews Rdr: C Newitt 58
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