Fastnet Filly Wins Group One Myer Classic

Tara Madgwick - Saturday November 4
Australia's best bred filly Shoals raised the bar in impressive style at Flemington Saturday to beat the older mares and win the Group I VRC Myer Classic.



Prepared by Anthony Freedman, Shoals finished second in the Group I MRC Thousand Guineas at her previous start to Aloisia and was well fancied to give the older mares a run for their money.

Shoals was ridden forward from gate 10 by Dean Yendall, who won the race last year on three year-old filly I Am a Star.

Shoals - images Grant CourtneyHe was able to repeat his performance, driving the filly to the front after turning for home and holding off all challengers to win the 1600 metre feature by a short half head over I Am Invincible mare Eckstein.

"She began well and travelled sweetly," Yendall said.

"I pushed the button a bit early, but I knew I had a 7kg pull in the weights. It was a massive effort."

Shoals has the impressive record of five wins and two seconds from seven starts with prizemoney topping $1million.

"We got confident when Aloisia won last Saturday," revealed Anthony Freedman.

"We decided to keep something up our sleeve for this race. She was incredibly tough today. There's no reason she can't win a few more Group One's."

Shoals was retained to race by her breeders Arrowfield Stud and Jonathan Munz (in whose colours she runs) and is the first foal of The Broken Shore, who was bought by Dean Hawthorne Bloodstock for $1.9 million at the Magic Millions Teeley Assets Dispersal in 2014.

Fastnet RockA metropolitan winner by Hussonet (USA), The Broken Shore is a half-sister to Group I winners Redoute's Choice, Manhattan Rain and Platinum Scissors as well as Group III winner Sliding Cube and stakes-winner Echoes of Heaven.

The Broken Shore has been to Fastnet Rock in three seasons running and was covered last spring by Medaglia D'Oro (USA). Her current two year-old filly, a full sister to Shoals, is called Tides and will also be trained by Anthony Freedman.

The 31st Group I winner for Fastnet Rock, Shoals brought up a Group I double for her champion sire, who also tasted success at in the $1million VRC Coolmore Stud Stakes with exciting colt Merchant Navy. Click here to read about him.


Advertisment
More Reading...
Ka Ying Rising connection draws Hayes team to Shamexpress at Karaka
With one of the world’s most exciting sprinters flying the flag for David Hayes in Hong Kong, it has been no surprise to see the trainer’s sons zeroing in on progeny of Windsor Park Stud stallion Shamexpress during the Ready to Run Sale at Karaka this week.
Vale, Danny Champion
The thoroughbred racing industry is in mourning following the passing of respected horseman Danny Champion.
Castelvecchio Out for Remainder of Season
Aeliana’s late charge into second place in the $1.5million Group I MRC Thousand Guineas last Saturday stamped her as the filly to follow out of the race, but it wasn’t quite enough to put her sire Castelvecchio to the top of the second season sires list and he is now out of service at Arrowfield following surgery last week.
Million-dollar Hour for Leung at NZB Ready To Run
Hong Kong bloodstock agent Willie Leung had a big hour at Karaka early on Thursday afternoon, spending more than $1 million to secure two well-credentialled colts at the NZB Ready to Run Sale.
Blockbuster Sale as NZB Ready to Run Records Tumble
Expectations were exceeded at Karaka with tremendous results witnessed across two days of selling at NZB’S 2024 Ready to Run Sale, confirming the demand for proven racetrack results and quality New Zealand-prepared horses.
Churchill Colt Pulls Off Stunning Pinhooking Result at NZB Ready To Run
Chad Ormsby has enjoyed plenty of racetrack success this year with pinhooks that he has been unable to sell at the Ready to Run Sale, but the multi-talented horseman had a very different outcome with the standout member of his 2024 Riverrock Farm draft at Karaka on Thursday.
Sires With Winners - Thursday November 21
Here is the full list of 32 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
City of Troy Crowned 2024 Cartier European Horse of the Year
Outstanding Justify colt City of Troy was crowned Horse of the Year at the 2024 Cartier awards on Wednesday night in London at a star studded ceremony at the Dorchester Hotel.
One to Watch – Hawkesbury
Castelvecchio has gone from nowhere to somewhere during the course of this spring with three stakes-winners putting his name in lights and he had a promising three year-old colt salute at Hawkesbury on Thursday that has now won two of three starts.
Arkansaw Kid Brother Sells for $520,000
A well-related son of Harry Angel provided a late highlight in the final hour of the 2024 NZB Ready to Run Sale at Karaka on Thursday when he was knocked down to a $520,000 bid from bloodstock agent Morgan Carter.