A
popular shuttler to Aquis Farm last spring, high class sire Holy Roman Emperor
(IRE) added another elite winner to his tally at Caulfield on Saturday when his
brilliant daughter Sheidel captured the Group I MRC Oakleigh Plate.
Trained by the Hayes / Dabernig partnership for Robert and Sylvie Crabtree of
Dorrington Farm , five year-old Sheidel already had $1million in prizemoney
before this weekend, but was in need of a Group I win.
Resuming from a spell, she flew straight to the front for Joao Moreira and kept
running right to the line to win the 1100 metre sprint by a length in a
sizzling 1:02.11 seconds.
Sheidel eased from $6 to $8 in the official prices but David Hayes said the market
could have underestimated the quality of Sheidel's second to Takedown in the
Group I WATC Winterbottom Stakes at her previous start in November.
"We were really confident with her," Hayes said. "I think that
Perth form is really under-rated. She was just spot on and she really put the
run up."
Dabernig said he remained confident in Sheidel throughout the race, even when
Faatinah launched his challenge early in the straight.
"She really deserved it. She has been narrowly beaten in a couple of Group
Is and today, she travelled and never looked like she was going to get
beat," Dabernig said.
"It really takes your breath away, it was amazing to watch."
Formerly prepared by David Harrison in WA before her private purchase by
Dorrington Farm, Sheidel has the overall record of 15 wins and six placings
from 27 starts with prizemoney topping $1.5 million and now heads to the Group
I VRC Newmarket Handicap.
Foaled and raised at Amarina Farm for her breeder Des De Largie, Sheidel is a
half-sister to stakes-winner Latoria and is the best of three winners from
ill-fated Laventour, a half-sister by Metal Storm (Fr) to Group III winner
Track Jester.
Sheidel is the tenth Group I winner worldwide for Holy Roman Emperor, who
shuttled to Aquis Farm in Queensland for the first time last spring covering
125 mares at a fee of $9,900.