Tom Dabernig keeps Shadhavar to own age at Caulfield races

Promising filly Shadhavar will not take her place in Saturday’s Group 3 Bletchingly Stakes (1200m), with trainer Tom Dabernig electing to give her one more run against her own age group instead. She will line up in the Tobin Brothers Celebrating Lives Handicap (1100m) at Caulfield.

Dabernig said the race presents the final chance for the filly to take on her peers before stepping up to open company. “It’s her last chance before she turns four,” he said. “She’ll have plenty of opportunities to run at Stakes level as a mare, but this looks a good stepping stone.”

Shadhavar was fifth first-up over Saturday’s track and trip on July 12, and while Dabernig initially found the run disappointing, further analysis showed merit. “She faced some tough, race-fit opposition, and she was right there until the last 100 metres. The run should have tightened her up nicely,” he explained.

The trainer added that Shadhavar typically improves after her first run back from a spell. “She’s had several preps where she’s underperformed first-up despite trialling well. A race under her belt always brings out the best in her,” Dabernig said.

With John Allen to ride again, Dabernig expects the filly to be much more competitive second-up. Punters can follow her progress and view odds for the race on leading betting platforms.