Fashion Shoot Strikes A Winning Pose

Well bred filly Fashion Shoot  (3 f Savabeel - High Fashion, by O'Reilly) recorded a second-up victory in the $10,000 Fibre Fresh Maiden 3YO 1200 metres on 17 September at Te Rapa.

Having won well when trialling on the course in July and fighting hard for third after leading on debut in the Maiden 1100 metres on 12 August at Taupo, Fashion Shoot had the credentials and draw (4) to rate a top three chance.

Caught a touch wide in the shuffle for positions, Fashion Shoot situated outside the leader at the 800m, took over when asked to lengthen by Danielle Johnson at the 200m and drew out to win easily by one and a quarter lengths. 

On footing upgraded a race earlier from Dead6 to Dead5, Fashion Shoot ran the 1200 metres in 1:12.1 and returned $5.00 & $1.60 on the NZ TAB tote. 

“It was a nice win by a promising filly,” said trainer Jamie Richards, fresh from saddling a hat-trick of winners on Sunday at Taupo. “She shaped up well at the trials and raced really well on the speed at Taupo, when probably always difficult for a first starter to lead like that and I thought she found a good kick against the older horses on that occasion. 

“She improved with a couple of days in the paddock after that, but probably just got away on me and had a nice blow before the meeting last Sunday at Taupo, where thankfully we decided to scratch after drawing a wide gate. 

“She drew a nice gate today, raced comfortably outside the speed and quickened in well against her own age group.”

Fashion Shoot has been nominated for a major assignment against her own age and sex in the $300,000 1000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m) on New Zealand Cup Day (Saturday 14 November) at Riccarton. 

“It was very pleasing to get the win and a nice ride from Danielle (Johnson), who is riding in good form at the moment and with plenty of confidence. She looks the type of filly that can go on with it,” Richards said. 

A beautifully put together filly owned by the Te Akau In Vogue Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM), she was purchased by David Ellis CNZM for $320,000, from the draft of Waikato Stud, at the NZB 2019 Karaka Book 1 Sale. By six-time Champion Sire Savabeel (Zabeel), a Cox Plate (Gr. 1, 2040m) winning three-year-old and Australasian sire sensation: closing in on $100 million progeny earnings with 35 Group 1 winners and 179 stakes winners. Her dam, High Fashion (O'Reilly), was an immensely talented race mare with a terrific turn of foot, winning four races including victory in the prestigious Desert Gold Stakes (Gr. 3, 1600m) and Lowland Stakes (Gr. 3, 2100m).

“I'm absolutely over the moon to see her win at just her second start,” Ellis said. “She was the last yearling filly to fully sell in 2019. I did a promotional video of her working with Gingernuts, here at the farm, saying what a beautiful filly she was and it's turned out to be correct.

“Rick Orr, a successful farmer from Canterbury, took the last available share in her. He has a boutique horse stud and brought his first draft to Karaka last year. He did a fantastic job and he's the sort of person we want to encourage into the breeding industry. 

“He's sending his mares to nice stallions, upgrading pedigrees, and he'll breed a really good horse for certain. 

“When he came to see her I told him I thought she could be a good filly and reminded him that some of the last horses to sell previously have got a terrific record. 

“I'm thrilled for all the owners because she's a quality filly with the pedigree to back her up - being by Savabeel out of an O'Reilly mare, in turn out of mares by Pins, and Sound Reason. Her mother was a Group 3 winner at 1600m and 2100m, so to see her winning over 1200 metres early on is very encouraging when looking at her potential to go further.

“I'd say that it was a pretty smart win today and those that finished in the first four are horses that can all go on with it. 

“Jamie (Richards) has done a great job with her and Tracy (Collis) and Kate (Belsham) have their team going really well at the Main Stable.

“We'll see how she comes through the win and make plans but the 1000 Guineas is less than eight weeks away and she could progress nicely towards that.”

Ellis also added that Fashion Shoot was another good winner for Jamie and Danielle, and that both lead their respective premierships early in the new season. 

Fashion Shoot was strapped by Katija Cherrie. 

Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz

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