Shamexpress Winner a Tonic for Whitby

Media Release - Saturday August 4

The Michael Moroney and Pam Gerard-trained Tiny Terror was a debut winner at Te Rapa on Saturday, but it was anything but plain sailing for the son of Shamexpress.

The three-year-old was promoted to first following a Stewards' Enquiry that saw the strongly supported favourite Von Trapp relegated to second.

Tiny Terror (in green and red) - Trish DunnellIn an on-speed dominated affair, Tiny Terror sat outside the leader Von Trapp for much of the contest but was denied clear-running in the home straight by the wayward favourite, who shifted out over the concluding stages.

The final margin of just a head was telling in the placings being reversed, with Cyber Attack three-quarters away in third.

"It's not the ideal way to win and I feel a bit sorry for the other owners, but I think it was a fair decision," Gerard said.

"He was a first-starter against some quite good horses and we wanted to get a line on him.

"We do think he is pretty good. He's a very strong horse that trialled up really well.

The win of Tiny Terror will provide a small tonic for prominent Sydney racehorse owner Max Whitby, who recently lost his wife Jenny after a long-running battle with illness.

Advertisement

A passionate racing man, Whitby is a friend to many in the racing industry on both sides of the Tasman.

"We have had a few offers for the horse but Max Whitby has been a fantastic owner for me," Gerard said.

"I've had three horses for him and all three of them have been named after his grandchildren and this is the last one.

"Max lost his wife Jenny recently and this victory is for her."

"We will see how the horse pulls up. He seems to be matching-up pretty well against the other early three-year-olds, so he will probably keep going."

Tiny Terror was a $70,000 NZB Premier purchase from the Blandford Lodge draft for Kitchwin Hills / Whitby Bloodstock.

The hitherto unbeaten Von Trapp lost no admirers in defeat, with trainer Richard Collett saying raceday experience was the key to overcoming his greenness. – NZ Racing Desk

Advertisment
More Reading...
2025 G1 The Metropolitan Field and Barrier Draw
Chris Waller and Ciaron Maher are set to have half of the Group I Metropolitan field between them with the Waller trained Birdman an easing favourite after drawing a wide gate for Saturday’s race.
Sires With Winners - Tuesday September 30
Here is the full list of 27 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Equimillion This Long Weekend – Draws and Start Lists
Racing NSW have their annual Equimillion event coming up this long weekend at Sydney International Equestrian Centre at Horsley Park and for people interested in off the trackers it’s a showcase for the sport, so let’s take a look at who’s who in the zoo.
2025 G1 Epsom Handicap Field and Barrier Draw
The field and barrier draw has been decided for the Group I Epsom Handicap on Saturday with odds-on favourite and unbeaten mare Autumn Glow drawing the extreme outside gate in a field of 14.
She's Unusual Keeps Good Times Rolling
Continued success with resident stallion Unusual Suspect and their racing team has kept Nigel and Adaire Auret busier than they may have envisaged, but without any complaints.
Karaka Million Dreaming for Out of the Blue
Te Akau Racing marketing manager Julia-Rose Hayes has had plenty of success syndicating horses selected by her father, David Ellis, and that has continued with her latest syndicate.
Autumn Glow Epsom Challenge - Just How Big Is This Task?
With the unbeaten Autumn Glow set to run as the first odds-on favourite this century in the Epsom Handicap on Saturday we thought we’d run some data to see how big this mountain is that she’s attempting to climb, and turns out, it’s pretty big.
Goffs Orby Day 2 - Trio of Million Dollar Yearling Fillies
The second day of the Goffs Orby Yearling Sale took off overnight with three individual yearlings selling for a million or more with the full sister to dual Group I winning champion 2YO Colt Blackbeard selling for €1.9 million to MV Magnier.
Youngsters Impress Leading into Magic Millions Horses in Training Sale
The build up to the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Horses in Training Sale has intensified with a swag of impressive breeze up performances over the past week.
Kiwi Raider Pier Upbeat Ahead of Epsom
Co-trainer and part-owner Darryn Weatherley is taking a glass half full approach ahead of Saturday’s Gr.1 Epsom Handicap (1600m) after he came up with an awkward wide gate for Pier.