The two ladies were mighty in the Group I Surround Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on Saturday smashing the race record, but at the finish it was Lady Shenandoah prevailing over Lady Of Camelot to get her second win at the top level.
THE RACE
Lady Shenandoah was ridden positively by James McDonald from the inside draw to sit third behind leaders Lilac and Lady Of Camelot with Lazzura fourth.
Those four would perhaps tellingly fill the first four placings, but Lady Shenandoah and Lady Of Camelot got right away to fight it out with the the Chris Waller trained daughter of Snitzel beating Lady Of Camelot (Written Tycoon) by a neck with Lazzura (Snitzel) third.
Lady Of Camelot was outstanding after sitting outside the lead with the winner having the drop on her.
The win takes Lady Shenandoah’s record to four wins, one second, one third from six starts with earnings of $1,217,500.
THE QUOTES
James McDonald:
“I’m rapt with her. She really had to fight it out. Credit to Gai and Adrian’s filly. That was as tough as it comes.
“I thought we were done and my filly pulled out all stops. Top class filly. Obviously we were expected to blaze away but you’ve got to have the tough victories to get the good ones as well. That was a good effort.
“You’ve got to remember she is only a young filly and I know we’ve got all these big hypes on them but it is still early days. She will fill out even more as a four-year-old. What she is doing is a really good effort.
Tim Clark (Lady Of Camelot):
“She was very brave. Went down fighting.”
Tommy Berry (Lazzura):
“I wouldn’t mind a barn full of her. She is just so honest, tenacious. Just keeps bumping into these good fillies. If they have an off day, over a mile, she will be there ready to pounce.”
Tyler Schiller (Lilac):
“I thought she was terrific. Probably the first time she has had to dictate a race. Did a great job of it. Quickened up well. Just beaten by some superior fillies.”
Nash Rawiller (Declichy Boulevard):
“She ran super. I was quite held up from the top of the straight to the 300m and she found the line really well.”
SALES
Lady Shenandoah was a $525,000 purchase for Hermitage Thoroughbreds from the Arrowfield Stud draft at the 2023 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
The yearling half-brother by Maurice is set to sell at Inglis Easter as Lot 187.
BREEDING
Bred by Arrowfield Pastoral Pty Ltd & Planette Thoroughbreds.
A three-quarter sister to Group 1 Sha Tin Centenary Sprint Cup and Group III Ken Russell Classic winner, Stronger (Not A Single Doubt) out of the winning Starcraft mare Star Pupil.
The daughter of three-time Listed stakes-winner Ain't Seen Nothin', Star Pupil is a sister to Listed SAJC HC Nitschke Stakes and Listed SAJC Laelia Stakes winner Ain'Tnofallenstar and a half to Group III ATC The Schweppervescence winner Bachman.
Star Pupil slipped to her 2023 covering to Snitzel and was served by him again in 2024.
THE FUTURE
Lady Shenandoah is a big, still quite unfurnished type and obviously top drawer. She could be a star for years to come.
Declichy Boulevard is working up to something.
