The three-year-old Impending gelding Shadow Vampire made it three on the bounce with a dominant performance in the Kia Ora Stallions (Bm68) (1000m) at Warwick Farm on Wednesday.
Ridden by Josh Parr for Mark Newnham, Shadow Vampire came with a sweeping run from the tale of the field to defeat Iowna Merc (Winning Rupert) by a neck with a long-neck back to Rebel Dean (Rebel Dane) in third.
"He has always shown talent, and it been a matter of hos best he is ridden and getting him to work with the riders," Newnham said.
"His first few runs he overraced and would not switch off. Now he has learnt his job and has a good turn of foot.
"I think that 11000m or a 1000m is where he is at. We will see how he comes through this, as there is a benchmark 78 over 1000m coming up on a Saturday at Randwick. He may have one more run before a little break.
"David Lui is a great client, and as long as we keep winning, I see no reason why he won't continue to support us.”
Shadow Vampire could not find a buyer willing to meet his $40,000 reserve at the Gold Coast and was taken home by Bowness Stud, which proved a smart decision. When reoffered at the National Yearling Sale, he made $85,000 to the bid of Sweetbriar Equine Pty Ltd.
Shadow Empire an $85,000 National Sale yearling
He is the second foal and second winner for the Casino Prince mare Lionel Left Me, a half-sister to the Group III Hawkesbury Gold Cup, and $1million earner Amavatio (Al Maher).
Lionel Left Me has a yearling filly by Menari and was not covered last year.
Darley Stud’s Impending (Lonhro) has three catalogued for the Gold Coast, two at the Inglis Classic and two at Karaka.
