FLEM MAR 06 - SHAAHEQ A WORTHY WINNER

By Graham Potter | Monday, March 8, 2010

Flemington, March 6, 2010.
Track - Dead 5. Rail - True.
Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes (Group 3 - 2yo) - 1200m.
Time: 1-10.91. (Carrying 54.5kgs).
1 Shaaheq; 2 Sublime Girl; 3 Marvellous Miss.

The David Hayes trained Shaaheq was not to be denied this time as she ran out a facile winner of the opening race on the card.

The Redoute’s Choice filly had contested four races prior to this contest and she finished second on four occasions ... but not one of those results could be called disappointing.

In her first prep she was runner-up to She’s Got Gears and Secession, both in Listed races over 1000m. This time in she found one better first-up in the form of the smart Crystal Lily in the Blue Diamond Prelude (also a Listed race) and then she only just failed in Group 1 company, in the Blue Diamond itself over 1200m, when cut down in the final strides by the exceptional winning effort of Star Witness.

So Shaaheq was due to win here ... and she made no mistake.

Jockey Steven Arnold had the filly very handy early, sitting just off the front-running Not A Pretender and he was happy to track that one until coming through the 200m mark when she took lead away from Not A Pretender who was starting to weaken.

The outsider Marvellous Miss made her run at the same time, but she could not find enough to pressure Shaaheq who went to the line to win by a comfortable 1.50 lengths ahead of Sublime Girl who got up late along the inside to relegate Marvellous Miss into third spot.

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer David Hayes: “She’s run in four stakes races and been second every time. To win a Group race is just terrific. I think that Blue Diamond form is looking pretty special.

“I thought she slightly over-raced in the winkers before and I thought, down the straight, there was a chance she would over-race. I just took them off. I’m pleased I did because she did grab the bit at certain stages.

“He (Steven Arnold) gave her a cosy ride, but you would expect that with what I’ve got planned for her. He next run is going to be the Slipper. I just think she is a bomb-proof filly who will be peaking at the right time.

““I ran second with Miss Finland in the Blue Diamond one year and she won the Slipper pretty easily. She is from the same sire and probably as consistent.

“I just wanted to see her win today. Look, if she pulls up well she’ll be going into the Slipper and I’ll be pretty confident she’ll be competitive enough in it.

Jockey Steven Arnold (who was having his first ride on the filly): “She was probably lucky enough to get into her easiest race so far. Didn’t cross over early so she was on the bridle a bit, but once she got cover she was really good.

“We came out pretty early, but she lengthened there nice and probably had a look around late.

“The Blue Diamond form is solid form. I think if she gets a truly run Golden Slipper, which they usually are, she can just lob, fifth, sixth or seventh and finish strongly, so it’s definitely worth having a go.”

PRICES:
Shaaheq (1.85 favourite); Sublime Girl (6.50); Marvellous Miss (51.00).

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Follonica over-raced in the early stages. A post race veterinary examination of Follonica revealed no abnormalities other than a slower than normal recovery.

Inside the 200m Shaaheq shifted out several horses under pressure and in doing so dictated Marvellous Miss’s line taking that filly out off its course. S Arnold (Shaaheq) was reminded of his obligations to stop riding and straighten his mounts when they have a tendency to shift ground.

A post race veterinary examination of Not A Pretender revealed no abnormalities other than a slower than normal recovery.

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