O'Reilly Mare Shalwa Opens Stakes Account in Helen Couglan Plate

Mark Smith - Saturday May 30

It was a Tony Gollan-trained quinella in Saturday’s Listed Helen Couglan Plate at Doomben, much to the delight of punters it was the heavily backed favourite Shalwa who opened her stakes account.

Shalwa fends off stablemate Krone image Racing Queensland

Shalwa fends off stablemate Krone image Racing Queensland

Ridden by Baylee Nothdurft, the 5yo daughter of O’Reilly defeat the Eurozone mare Krone by a neck with the luckless Redoute’s Choice mare Jen Rules, three-quarter of a length back in third.

Shalwa earned a spot in next week’s Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap but Gollan is not convinced she is up to the class.

“It’s a bit of a surprise, I have no firm ideas on the Stradbroke but I’ll speak with part-owner Sheamus Mills and we will work it out,” Golan said.

“This was her sought of race. She loves Doomben and we thought this race would be her grand final, give her a chance to get on the speed and control the race and she did just that."

"We took the blinkers off about five starts back and she's been a different horse, hasn't run a bad race since and hopefully that continues."

"Chrome was excellent running second, I'm still working her out having not had her too long, but we took the tongue tie off after her Gold Coast run where she was a bit worked up and she presented far more relaxed today."

"I really think she'll win a race this winter, there's a mares race over the 1400 metres in a couple of week’s time which looks right up her alley."

Nothdurft said he felt like he was on the winner all the way.

"She went super today, she enjoys travelling on hot speeds she's got a lovely big action, there was no point in the run I didn't feel like we'd be in the finish," Nothdurft said.

"She's just a mare that gets everything out of herself, she did it again today when we hit the lead very early and she just kept finding she's tough."

"I know the Stradbroke wasn't the goal with her but she's there now with no weight on her back, she loves Eagle Farm who knows."

Both the winner and runner-up have been catalogued for Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale in July.

Bred by Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Maktoum, Shalwa advances her record to 7 wins, 5 seconds and 2 thirds from 22 starts with earnings of $301,065 after beginning her career under the training of Mick Price.

She is the only foal to race out of the Elusive Quality (USA) mare Futoon who is a daughter of the exceptional racemare Flitter (Bluebird) whose nine wins included the Group 1 BATC Doomben Ten Thousand and Group 1 STC Winfield Classic.

Purchased by Tim Stakemire for $130,000 at the 2007 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, Futoon had just one more foal, a 4yo unraced sister to Shalwa named Ishraqa, before being retired.

Shalwa becomes stakes-winner number 96 for the former Waikato resident O’Reilly who died in December 2014.

 

Race Result - Tab Helen Coughlan Stakes LR 1350m

Doomben Track: Good(4) Time: 1:19.12
1
Shalwa
- 5m O'Reilly (NZ) x Futoon (AUS) (Elusive Quality (USA))
Tnr: T J Gollan Rdr: Baylee Nothdurft 55.5
2
0.3
Krone
- 4m Eurozone (AUS) x Soft Landing (AUS) (Al Maher (AUS))
Tnr: T J Gollan Rdr: J Byrne 57
3
1.1
Jen Rules
- 4m Redoute's Choice (AUS) x Fate Rules (AUS) (Encosta De Lago (AUS))
Tnr: P & P Snowden Rdr: Dale Smith 55.5
4
1.4
Bangkok
- 5m Medaglia D'Oro (USA) x Aziani (AUS) (Fasliyev (USA))
Tnr: A J Denham Rdr: S Cormack 55.5
5
1.5
Multaja
- 4m Medaglia D'Oro (USA) x Shelters (AUS) (Lonhro (AUS))
Tnr: James Cummings Rdr: L V Cassidy 57.5
6
1.6
Into The Abyss
- 4m Foxwedge (AUS) x Moonboat (AUS) (Encosta De Lago (AUS))
Tnr: John Thompson Rdr: James Orman 55.5
7
2.9
Teleplay
- 5m Written Tycoon (AUS) x Special Episode (AUS) (Redoute's Choice (AUS))
Tnr: M Price & M Kent Jnr Rdr: B N Stewart 58
8
3.1
Romani Girl
- 4m Reliable Man (GB) x Gypsy Jewels (AUS) (Jade Robbery (USA))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: Jake Bayliss 55.5
9
3.3
Love You Lucy
- 4m Love Conquers All (AUS) x Whitechapel (AUS) (Giant's Causeway (USA))
Tnr: B J Squair Rdr: M R Du Plessis 56.5
10
4.0
River Racer
- 6m Hidden Dragon (AUS) x Royal Yangtze (AUS) (Royal Academy (USA))
Tnr: L G Ross Rdr: A Mallyon 56.5
11
4.2
Ready To Prophet
- 4m Smart Missile (AUS) x Ready To Live (USA) (More Than Ready (USA))
Tnr: G Waterhouse & A Bott Rdr: R Wiggins 57
12
4.6
Fiesta
- 4m I Am Invincible (AUS) x Now Now (AUS) (Danehill Dancer (IRE))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: M Cahill 58.5
13
7.9
Paint The Town Two
- 5m Darci Brahma (NZ) x Italic (GB) (Medicean (GB))
Tnr: S B Laming Rdr: R Fradd 57.5
14
11.4
Frangipani Moon
- 4m Spirit Of Boom (AUS) x Equality (AUS) (Conatus (AUS))
Tnr: David Vandyke Rdr: Ms S Thornton 56.5
15
11.7
Bold Arial
- 4m I Am Invincible (AUS) x Helvetica (AUS) (Zariz (AUS))
Tnr: Billy Healey Rdr: M Hellyer 55.5
More Reading...
Yearling Attention Heads West
The yearling sale caravan moves on to Perth next week after this week’s Classic Sale in Sydney and the Breednet data has tossed up a few highlights.
One to Watch – Ipswich
Zousain had a very solid Inglis Classic Yearling Sale with his progeny selling for up to $280,000 off a $22,000 fee and the affordable Widden Stud based son of Zoustar gave us a One to Watch on Wednesday.
Sires With Winners - Wednesday February 12
Here is the full list of 37 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
2025 National Online Yearling Sale Entries Open
Entries for NZB’s 2025 National Online Yearling Sale are now open, with the Sale set to be held on Gavelhouse Plus.
Long Awaited Return for Legarto
Multiple Group One winner Legarto will make her long-awaited return to racing when she heads to her home track at Matamata on Saturday to contest the Listed Lisa Chittick Champagne Stakes (1400m).
Sires With Winners - Thursday February 13
Here is the full list of 40 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
One to Watch – Wyong
When you see Darby Racing, Bjorn Baker and a blue hen, how can that mix not produce a winner?
Golden Crop is Gift That Keeps Giving
When talented three year-old filly Written Scandal bolted in at Wyong on Thursday to win by nearly six lengths she became the 60th winner from that one golden crop of foals by champion sire Written Tycoon that were conceived at Arrowfield Stud in 2020.
Juvenile Trial Watch - Randwick
Five heats for juveniles at Randwick on Thursday morning with the Magic Millions 2YO Classic winner O’Ole given a tick over trial in preparation for a tilt at the Group I MRC Blue Diamond Stakes and we also had a look at the most expensive colt by Dundeel ever sold.
Extreme Choice Weanling Filly Tops Arqana February Mixed Sale
The first sale of the year for French auction house Arqana, the February Mixed Sale on Wednesday was topped by an interesting weanling filly by Newgate Farm’s outstanding sire Extreme Choice, who covers a mare a day all year round in Australia in a bid to combat his well documented fertility issues.