WINNER: Sheanadh Shines

Given a top ride by apprentice Liana Wood (a3), Sheanadh (4 m Night Of Thunder – Disbelieve, by Golden Horn) resumed with victory the A$27,000 Benchmark 56 1100 metres 1 September at Wodonga (Victoria).

A debut winning three-year-old in January, Sheanadh finished just behind the leaders in a recent jump out on 17 August at Cranbourne, had weight relief to 57.5kg, the ability to act fresh, and now has recorded two wins from four starts.

For Wood, it kept a good thing going after riding stable-mate Astari (Starspangledbanner) to win two days earlier at Echuca, while trainer Mark Walker, who presented Stage ‘n’ Screen (Ace High) to win on the first day (1 Aug.) of the new season at Flemington, recorded his fifth win on the first day of spring (1 Sept.).

After getting a cart along early, Sheanadh progressed forward three-wide inside the 600m, appeared to travel best when improving to second rounding the home turn, and she sustained both a strong and timely finish to score by three-quarters of a length over race favourite Russian Sky (Russian Camelot).

“Mark (Walker) and Ben (Gleeson) have been a huge supporter of mine and they had this filly entered in a perfect race for her,” said Wood, who won ‘Ride of the Day’ aboard Astari on Sunday at Echuca. 

“She kicked away easily, today, and I was very happy. I’ve had a couple of gallops on her and well done to the team at home. They have a great team, Te Akau, great riders, so well done to them.

“I let her find her feet and although not wanting to be three-wide as early as I was, she quickened up beautifully around the corner and went away easily.”

In the race sponsored by Picklebet Home of Top Four Betting, Sheanadh ran 1100 metres in 1:07.5 on Soft6 footing and held firm to pay $4.30 & $1.60 on the NZ TAB tote.

“She (Sheanadh) did the job really well and great to get another win for Seymour Bloodstock (Mark Pilkington and Darren Thomas),” Walker said.

“She’s gaining confidence, Liana, following a good win for us on Sunday and it’s showing in her decision making. She’s a great help to us in the mornings, riding track work, and both the horse and jockey are going well.

“We’ll see how she comes through the race, but looking to place her to best advantage in the future and where she can hopefully win again.

“Mark Pilkington, who manages Seymour Bloodstock, is great to deal with and he’s been a great supporter of the Te Akau stable in Melbourne.”

Sheanadh is by Group 1 2000 Guineas (1600m) winner and Champion Sire in Britain and Ireland, Night Of Thunder (Dubawi), who also won the Group 1 Lockinge Stakes (1600m), while her dam-sire Golden Horn (Cape Cross) won the Group 1 Epsom Derby (2400m), Group 1 Eclipse Stakes (2000m), Group 1 Irish Champion Stakes (2000m), and Group 1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (2400m). 

Sheanadh was strapped by Abbey Eaton.