Rosemont Stud’s Shamus Award can get a seriously good horse and while it’s a long way from a heavy track maiden win at Canterbury on a Wednesday to stakes success, Big Red Tequila did look like a filly with more to offer.
Trained by Joe Pride and ridden by Tyler Schiller, Big Red Tequila was easy in the betting, but the three year-old relished the wet ground to power clear and win the 1100m maiden by a length and three-quarters at her second start.
“She got to the line really well at her first start, so I wasn't afraid to bring her into town,” said Joe Pride.
“It was a good win. She may have been a bit flattered there by the wet track, because I suspected she would get through it as she's a light filly who sort of skips across the top of the ground quite effortlessly.”
Pride has had to be patient with the filly, who will now look to progress through the grades as has another Shamus Award filly in the stable in The Black Cloud.
“She was never a robust filly. She was a filly we got really cheaply down at the Premier Sale and her breeders Musk Creek stayed in her, so they'll be really happy with that.
“I'm sure she's going places because she's got a lot of upside to her.”
A $75,000 Inglis Premier purchase from Musk Creek Farm for her trainer, Big Red Tequila is the second winner from Imperial Empress, a winning half-sister by Encosta de Lago to Group I winner Rock Kingdom.
Sadly for Musk Creek, Imperial Empress passed away prematurely and Big Red Tequila is her final foal.