Shadhavar demonstrates staying power with Caulfield win
Maturity has been a significant asset for Shadhavar, who added another Stakes victory to her impressive resume with a determined run in the Listed Regal Roller Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on Saturday.
Coming off a two-race preparation last term that saw Shadhavar achieve success at Listed level, the mare has continued her development with another significant black-type triumph.
Exactly one year ago, Shadhavar was defeated in a Benchmark 74 race at the same fixture. However, the daughter of Pride Of Dubai now boasts six victories from 15 starts, accumulating over $400,000 in earnings.
Sent to the post as the $5 favourite under jockey Craig Williams, Shadhavar secured a narrow short-neck victory over Persian Spirit, who was priced at $10. Recommendation ($6) finished a length further back in third place.
According to senior part-owner Joe O'Neill, there will be no rush to extend Shadhavar's campaign to 1400m for the prestigious Group 1 Memsie Stakes, scheduled for Caulfield on August 29.
He noted that the Group 3 Courtza Stakes (1200m), also part of the same race day program, is likely to present a more appropriate challenge.
"She's a very good mare and she's improving all the time," O'Neill remarked. "Who knows where she may finish, as it is just the start of her preparation."
"The Courtza Stakes is in two weeks' time, and I would like to win that. I think we will keep her sprinting as you can go up in distance too quickly and have a gut-buster and it is a long way to Flemington."
O'Neill expressed his gratitude towards trainer Tom Dabernig for his exceptional work with Shadhavar, indicating that a campaign designed to peak at Flemington during the Melbourne Cup Carnival is the ultimate goal.
"The Champions Sprint," O'Neill declared. "I think she's a sprinter, and that's the thing, people tend to push horses sometime and push them out in distance. Keep her fresh, keep her happy, so it's very good.".
With the mare in such fine form, securing top odds on the Regal Roller Stakes winner through betting markets for the race could prove a rewarding decision.
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