Three from Three Shillelagh

Promising mare Shillelagh (4 m Savabeel - Trocair, by Flying Spur) made it three wins from as many starts with another impressive performance on Saturday 12 December at Awapuni.

Up in grade after resuming a fortnight ago with a easy victory in the Rating 65 1200 metres at Wanganui, Shillelagh again combined with Cameron Lammas for the same result in the $22,500 NZ Travel Brokers Rating 75 1400 metres.

“She jumped nicely to get one off and when I went down to the fence at the 600m she travelled up there nicely,” said Lammas. “Once I got the gap she really finished off well.

“She's tough and I think when something challenges her she'll cop it and likes to have a bit of a fight, I think.

“I stayed one off the rail for awhile, but decided to go down to the fence at the 600m and saw Kane (Smith) wasn't going that well so I was able to push him out of the way a bit. I was quite happy to use a bit of force to get myself out.

“She certainly felt improved on Wanganui, but in saying that I used her a bit more to get handy there and today I was able to slot in where she was happy.

“She was good in the barriers, is getting stronger and stronger, and should get over a bit of ground,” said Lammas.

Shortening in the market after opening at $4.40 & $1.90, Shillelagh returned $3.40 & $1.60 on the tote after running the 1400 metres in a good time of 1:22.43 and last 600m in 34.1.

Bred and owned by Christopher Grace QSM and his wife Susanna Grace, 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.

“It was a very good win,” said Christopher Grace, who attended the races with his wife Susanna and their grandchildren.

“Pam (Gerard) said she ate up when arriving the night before and it was quite a brilliant win.

“I sold Tullamore as a three-year-old to Australia, and he now has five sisters. The family has performed at 1400 and 1600 metres and Tullamore, after finishing third in a Caulfield Cup, went on to run in a Melbourne Cup.

“She (Shillelagh) was in tremendous order. She's had her time with us earlier on and we pre-trained her in our stables at Bulls. She's got a bit of quality and she's as tough as nails, too,” said Grace.

Although bred to run considerably further - boasting Sir Ivor (Sir Gaylord), the sire of the mighty stallion Sir Tristram - on both sides of her pedigree, Shillelagh exudes a quality in that enables her to quicken when required over shorter trips.

Shillelagh was the 42^nd win this season for trainers Stephen Autridge & Jamie Richards and keeps them atop the training premiership.

Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz