Savabeel's Shillelagh Surprises in Godolphin Crown

After having little luck on wet tracks in three starts this time in, the Chris Waller-trained Shillelagh had all the breaks to record a maiden stakes success in Saturday's $175,000 Group III 2017 Godolphin Crown (1300m) at Hawkesbury.

Waller took over the training of the 5yo daughter of Savabeel late last year having previously campaigned for Matamata trainers Stephen Autridge and Jamie Richards.

A 4-time winner in New Zealand, Shillelagh won at Caulfield last October before finishing second to Artistry in the Hong Kong Jockey Club Stakes.

Ridden by Tye Angland, Shillelagh defeated heavily backed favourite Daysee Doom (Domesday) by three-quarters of a length with another one and a quarter lengths back to Godolphin's Kinshachi (Commands) in third. (photo Steve Hart). 

"That was very good. She's got some turn of foot," Angland said.

"She jumped OK. I would have liked to be a tad closer but I had to deal with the cards I was dealt and it was a matter of timing the run.

"She surprised me how strong she was late. I gave her a little quicken and she responded but the last 100 metres was first rate."

A homebred for Grace family, Shillelagh is a sister to three winners including the Group II Brisbane Cup winner Tullamore who placed in the Group I Caulfield Cup.

They are out of the winning Flying Spur mare Trocair a half-sister to Nautique (Pins) a dual Grade III winner in North America.

A full-sister to Shillelagh was purchased by BBA Ireland / Lindsay Park Racing for $340,000 out of the Little Avondale draft at the NZ Bloodstock Premier Yearling Sale at Karaka.

Trocair has a weanling colt by Ocean Park ad was covered by Savabeel last year.

Shillelagh becomes the 63^rd winner for Waikato Stud's flagship stallion Savabeel.