Shout Out for Shillelagh

Set up beautifully by a frenetic pace, Shillelagh (4 m Savabeel - Trocair, by Flying Spur) displayed her class with an impressive win in the $22,500 Rating 75 1200 metres on 18 June at Ruakaka.

Recording her fourth win from only six starts for breeder and owners Christopher Grace QSM and his wife Susanna Grace, Shillelagh was unable to quicken on slow ground when resuming but reeled in her rivals with aplomb on near perfect Dead4 going.

Given 35 days between runs by trainers Stephen Autridge & Jamie Richards, Shillelagh had indicated in recent work that she was near peak and clocking 1:10.7, last 600m in 35.8, confirmed it when dashing three and a half lengths clear over the final 100m.

“When she's right she could be anything and good to see her back to her best,” said Richards.

“It's lovely to have her in the stable for Christopher and Susanna Grace, who have been supporters of Dave's (Ellis) for a long time."

Shillelagh is the fifth Savabeel (Zabeel) foal from the mare, after the first foaling resulted in producing Brisbane Cup (Gr. 2, 2400m) winner Tullamore [$827,000 in stakes], and Te Akau principal David Ellis purchased her year younger three-year-old sister Grazia for $100,000 at the 2014 New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Yearling Sale from the draft of Little Avondale Stud.

“Christopher & Susanna Grace have been friends with us for a long time and breed really good horses at their Hunterville farm,” said Ellis. “And we love buying them because they're genuine horses that just keep winning races."

The victory also inched the trainers closer to a milestone this season.

“Win number ninety-nine,” said Ellis.

“It puts Steve & Jamie six ahead in the premiership and this is a filly that I think they've handled superbly.

“I'd say they will have a lot of fun with this mare at group level, once she gets up in the ratings, and she looks a group filly to me.

“We've got the full-sister racing this coming week, Grazia, and it's another good weekend for Te Akau with Mark (Walker) winning the big race last night in Singapore with Rockfast (Fastnet Rock) and he will probably start second favourite, at this stage, in the Derby."

Shillelagh was strapped by Jahmane Murray-Bromwich.

Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz