4 Win Saturday - Star Shadow Shines

Almost a year to the day since winning on debut as a two-year-old at Otaki, grey filly Star Shadow (3 f Reliable Man – Scene Queen, by Redoute’s Choice) won the $20,000 Avon City Ford Rating 65 1600 metres on Saturday at Riccarton. 

Having done very well from the rear for second in the Rating 65 1600 metres on 5 February and not far away when finishing widest on the track in the Rating 65 1600 metres on 5 March, both at Riccarton, Star Shadow had been given time (38 days) between runs and rated a top three chance.

Ridden by George Rooke, having his first visit to the course, Star Shadow slotted into midfield, was ninth passing the 600m, and unwound with a well-timed finish after getting clear at the 250m.

It was a talented ride by the Englishman, who has shown to be among the best of his craft since commencing last October in New Zealand- and it was also a top effort by Star Shadow, a filly patiently handled by trainers Mark Walker & Sam Bergerson that had also measured up in stakes' company. 

“She looked as though she was going to be unlucky before getting clear in the straight, but a good ride by George Rooke, and she managed to put a winning break on them,” Walker said. 

“Great to get another win for John Galvin and his owners in Fortuna Racing. She’s a filly that Dave (Ellis) bought cheaply with John and we’ll step her up again to black type racing next start.”

The race is mind for Star Shadow is the $80,000 Listed New Zealand Bloodstock Warstep Stakes over 2000m on Saturday 26 April at Riccarton. 

On Good4 footing, Star Shadow ran 1600 metres in 1:36.8, and justified favouritism to pay $3.80 & $1.90 on the NZ TAB tote. 

Purchased by David Ellis CNZM and Fortuna Racing for $35,000 at the 2023 Karaka Book 2 Sale, from the draft of Westbury Stud, Star Shadow was a rare two-year-old winner for her sire, Reliable Man (Dalakhani), who won two Group 1 races to 2100 metres and whose progeny have excelled as three-year-olds and upwards.

That said, the juvenile win was indicative of showing natural ability, which had been exuded in trials prior to racing, and there appears good reason for ongoing improvement, now with two wins under her belt. 

Owned by the Fortuna Star Shadow Syndicate (Mgr: John Galvin), Star Shadow is out of a mare by world-class Champion Sire and Champion Broodmare Sire Redoute’s Choice (Danehill), and carries a Northern Dancer cross on the dam line of Reliable Man (Dalakhani) and sire line of Scene Queen. 

“She’s been a tad unlucky in some of her runs, but she was well suited by the race today,” said Galvin, after touching down in Melbourne, in readiness to watch stable-mate Leaderboard contest the A$75,000 J. E .H Spencer Memorial Steeplechase (4000m) on Sunday at Pakenham.

“She’s got ability and we think she’s got the potential to win black type. We made the decision to take a softer option and by winning the race today, when we were also in the field for Listed NZB Airfreight Stakes, she’s got confidence and valuable ratings points as well.

“She looked to be in a bit of trouble at the 300m, and George (Rooke) had to come off heels, but she got there in the end and it was a pretty good effort.

“The Warstep Stakes will be a nice race for her in a couple of weeks. The 2000 metres, well she hasn’t run that yet but I don’t think there’s any doubt that she will see the distance.”

Commenting on Leaderboard, backing up after comfortably winning the Open Steeplechase 3250m last Sunday at Ballarat, Galvin said: 

“He’s had a fantastic week.  He had a pretty soft run last week, which took nothing out of him, and Mark (Walker) has hardly done anything with him since then. Just ticking over and he went to the beach on Wednesday for a swim in the surf and worked through the sand dunes on Friday.

“He’s a great jumper, in good form, so we’re pretty confident of him racing well again.”

Star Shadow was strapped by Hunter Durrant. 

Photo credit - Ajay Berry - www.raceimages.co.nz