Savabeel's Shillelagh Threads The Needle in Empire Rose Stakes

Mark Smith - Saturday November 3

Supporters of the Chris Waller-trained Shillelagh closed their eyes and said a few Hail Marys as James McDonald navigated a perilous path between runners to power home in Saturday's $500,000 Group 1 Empire Rose Stakes (1600m) at Flemington.

The 7yo daughter of Savabeel never blinked, slicing between runners to defeat Bring Me Roses (High Chaparral) by one and a quarter lengths with the 3yo filly Fundamentalist (Not A Single Doubt) a half-head back in third. (photos Grant Courtney).

Advertisement


It's been 10 starts since Shillelagh's last win which came on this day 12 months ago in the Group 1 Cantala Stakes (Kennedy Mile).

The winner of five of her 11 starts when trained in New Zealand by Stephen Autridge and Jamie Richards, Shillelagh advances her record to 8 wins, 3 seconds and 1 third from 29 starts with earnings of $1,352,746.

"I'll take a little bit of credit for that one," McDonald said.

It's great how it all worked out, she travelled so beautifully.

"I had to get a little bit of luck throughout the run and she got that. She burst through, and I was on the right horse that was trained to perfection.

"Kiwi trainer, Kiwi jockey and Kiwi owners what can be better than that?"

It was the second win in the race for Waller after Red Tracer in 2013.

"That's racing, it can deliver you some highs and lows," Waller said.

"I've been the biggest sook of all today running a couple of seconds. I thought it was the end of the world on the back of last week, and then thirty minutes later you're winning a Group 1 race.

"The last week has been amazing. You're walking around on cloud nine trying to stay focused on such a big race day like Derby day but what a great sport to be involved with."

Unraced at two and making just one start at three, Shillelagh has been a late bloomer, which is not surprising as she is a sister to the Group II Brisbane Cup winner Tullamore who ran third in behind Southern Speed and Green Moon in the 2011 Group 1 Caulfield Cup and at his following start beat all bar the outstanding Americain in the Group II MVRC Drake International Cup.

Tullamore is the first foal and Shillelagh the fifth foal of the Flying Spur mare Trocair.

Twelve months after foaling Shillelagh, Trocair produced her third stakes winner by Savabeel a filly named Grazia who was a $100,000 purchase for David Ellis at the 2014 New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Yearling Sale from the draft of Little Avondale Stud.

A week before Shillelagh's win in the Cantala Stakes, Grazia opened her own stakes account in the Listed Spring Classic at Riccarton.

Trocair has been a regular visitor to Savabeel however in 2016 she foaled a colt by Ocean Park that has been catalogued for the NZB Ready to Run Sale of 2YOs on November 21 and 22.

From a strong stakes-winning family, particularly in Canada, Trocair is a half-sister to the Pins filly Nautique who won a pair of Grade III stakes races in the United States.

Trocair missed to Savabeel in 2016 but was covered by Waikato Stud's champion again last spring.

Advertisment
More Reading...
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.
Probabeel Chasing Karaka Million History
High-class filly Probabeel (NZ) (Savabeel) will shoot for a slice of history at the Karaka Million twilight race meeting at Ellerslie on January 25.
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.
Mo'Unga Looking to Bounce Back
Trainer Annabel Neasham is looking forward to stepping out Group One winner Mo’unga in the Gr.2 Chelmsford Stakes (1600m) at Randwick on Saturday, where she is expecting to see an improved run from the entire.
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.
Savabeel Colt Secures Karaka Million Start
Te Akau Racing’s quest to win the Karaka Million 2YO (1200m) for the fourth year in succession was bolstered considerably when Cool Aza Beel ensured his place in the field with a dominant victory at Tauranga on Friday.
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 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.