Lady Shenandoah to line up in Coolmore Classic despite draw

Lady Shenandoah and Lady Of Camelot, the first and second-place finishers in the Surround Stakes, are set to clash again in the Coolmore Classic. However, both will need to overcome tough outside barriers.

Originally a dual acceptor for the Phar Lap Stakes (1500m), Lady Shenandoah has now been withdrawn from that race. Her trainer, Chris Waller, has previously won the event with top-class fillies like Winx (2015), Verry Elleegant (2019), and Zougotcha (2022).

Instead, Waller has opted for the Coolmore Classic despite Lady Shenandoah drawing barrier 13 of 15, while Lady Of Camelot will jump one position wider in barrier 14.

Before the final field and barriers were confirmed on Wednesday, Waller suggested he was leaning toward the Coolmore Classic (1500m) due to its Group 1 status.

“She’s got nothing left to prove in terms of the Group Two Phar Lap,” Waller said in his weekly runner update on X.

“I would use the Phar Lap if she was going to go beyond (a mile), but there is no guarantee that she will.

“Will she run in the Vinery (Stud Stakes), 2000 metres? Unlikely. Will she freshen up and go to the Queen Of The Turf? Possibly. Will she run in the Doncaster (Mile)? Maybe. We will see how she is this Saturday. There is a bit to play out.”

Lady Shenandoah will be joined in the Coolmore Classic by her stablemate Lazzura and the Michael Freedman-trained Manaal. However, they have also drawn tricky barriers, with Lazzura in gate eight and Manaal in 11.

Manaal has endured a tough run with wide barriers this campaign, having jumped from 10 of 13 when unplaced in the Light Fingers Stakes (1200m) and 12 of 14 when finishing fifth behind Lady Shenandoah in the Surround Stakes (1400m).

Freedman accepted for both the Coolmore Classic and the Phar Lap Stakes, hoping for a better draw, but was given barrier 11 in both races.

“I figured if I had two cracks, I might be a chance of drawing a barrier in one,” Freedman said.

“I thought her run last start was terrific. She was four-wide without cover but kept fighting all the way to the line.

“I think she is back to where I had her twelve months ago.”

Rachel King has been booked to ride Manaal at 51kg if she lines up in the Coolmore Classic, while Jason Collett will take the reins in the Phar Lap Stakes.

“It will all come down to where I think she is best placed,” Freedman added.

Amelia’s Jewel is the 58kg topweight in the Coolmore Classic and will attempt to become the first horse since Sunline (2002) to carry more than 57kg to victory.

Typhoon Tracy was the last filly to win the race in 2009, while Kimochi ran third last year as a three-year-old.