Lady Shenandoah - The Air Just Got Rare

Craig Tompson - Sunday March 16

Lady Shenandoah won the Group I Coolmore Classic at Rosehill on Saturday, as favourite, so no real surprise, but what might surprise is the rare air she now sits within, and the question becomes where might it finish?.

Lady Shenandoah wins the Coolmore Classic. Photo: bradleyphotos.com.au

The details of the race were that her rider James McDonald found a spot one off the fence midfield and produced Lady Shenandoah at the right time where she finished too strongly to narrowly beat Firestorm (Satono Aladdin) with Lady Of Camelot (Written Tycoon) third.

They ran a blistering 1.27.38 for trhe 1500m. Only one-tenth of a second off the course record, which was set by Shindig in the Coolmore of 1998.

“She wasn’t entitled to win, she was all out at the 100m,” said McDonald.

“And she was worked up prior to the start which was a bit of a concern. Just whether that was her home track. But we were able to take a couple of minutes where she took a breath around at the start.

“She began well and fitted in and showed her quality fighting spirit.

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“I think that she is a fast filly and as she gets older and starts filling out into her frame I think that she will come back in trip and be even faster.

 

For a race with a rich history, run at the same time every year, over the same course and distance, attracting the best of the talent, it’s worth noting that Lady Shenandoah is the first three-year-old filly to win the Coolmore since Typhoon Tracy in 2009.

And the last filly able to carry more weight to victory was Assertive Lass in 1997.

In the last 40 years there have only been 25 fillies finish their three-year-old season with three or more Group One wins to their name:

Bounding Away - 6

Slight Chance - 6
Miss Finland - 5
Triscay - 5
Alinghi - 4
Grand Archway - 4
Guelph - 4
Mosheen - 4
Research - 4
Darjina - 3
Hoeberg - 3
Lady Shenandoah - 3
Northwood Plume - 3
Paraca - 3
Riverina Charm - 3
Samantha Miss - 3
Serenade Rose - 3
Shoals - 3
Snap - 3
Special Harmony - 3
Spirit Of Kingston - 3
Sunlight - 3
Tidal Light - 3
Tycoon Lil - 3
Yosei - 3

If Lady Shenandoah does nothing more, she’s done more than enough.

But with her unfurnished frame and raw talent, one senses there is more.

Her trainer Chris Waller is patient, likes a pattern and likes longevity, as he showed famously with Winx. He announced her to the paddock to prepare for the spring immediately after the race.

Lady Shenandoah came to the top grade considered a second stringer, but those days are gone. The air can only become rarer from here.

For more details on Lady Shenandoah click here.

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Race Result - Coolmore Classic Gr1 1500m

Rosehill Track: Good(4) Time: 1:27.38
1
Lady Shenandoah
- 3f Snitzel (AUS) x Star Pupil (AUS) (Starcraft (NZ))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: J B Mc Donald 54.5
Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale $525,000
Seller: Arrowfield Stud, Scone
Buyer: Hermitage Thoroughbreds Pty Ltd
2
0.2
Firestorm
- 4m Satono Aladdin (JPN) x Dancing Embers (NZ) (Istidaad (USA))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: Tyler Schiller 51.5
3
0.8
Lady Of Camelot
- 3f Written Tycoon (AUS) x Miss Debutante (AUS) (Fastnet Rock (AUS))
Tnr: G Waterhouse & A Bott Rdr: Tim Clark 54
4
2.4
Olentia
- 5m Zoustar (AUS) x Mabkhara (AUS) (Anabaa (USA))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: J R Collett 55.5
5
3
Manaal
- 3f Tassort (AUS) x Red Lodge (USA) (Midshipman (USA))
Tnr: Michael Freedman Rdr: Rachel King 51
6
4.8
Amelia's Jewel
- 5m Siyouni (FR) x Bumbasina (IRE) (Canford Cliffs (IRE))
Tnr: Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald Rdr: J Parr 58
7
5.1
Marble Arch
- 5m Per Incanto (USA) x Jonquil (NZ) (Sakhee's Secret (GB))
Tnr: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes Rdr: Tommy Berry 54.5
8
5.3
Our Gold Hope
- 4m Lope De Vega (IRE) x Grey Queen (USA) (More Than Ready (USA))
Tnr: R & L Price Rdr: Ashley Morgan 51
9
5.9
Alsephina
- 6m Star Turn (AUS) x Delta Gee (AUS) (Street Cry (IRE))
Tnr: G & A Williams Rdr: B Shinn 55
10
6.3
Coeur Volante
- 4m Proisir (AUS) x Shanina (AUS) (Testa Rossa (AUS))
Tnr: Michael Moroney & Glen Thompson Rdr: K Mc Evoy 54
11
7
Scarlet Oak
- 4m Kermadec (NZ) x Tactless (AUS) (Commands (AUS))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: Zac Lloyd 51
12
8
Sounds Of Heaven
- 5m Kingman (GB) x Ring The Bell (IRE) (Galileo (IRE))
Tnr: Joseph Pride Rdr: Reece Jones 51
13
10.9
Elettrica
- 6m Vespa (NZ) x On The Move (AUS) (More Than Ready (USA))
Tnr: Richard & Will Freedman Rdr: A B Collett 51
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