A magical front running ride from Hong Kong’s master Joao Moreira saw Sheidel lead all of the way to win the 2017 Group 1 $500,000 The Resimax Group Oakleigh Plate (1100m) at Caulfield.
Sheidel, above. led all of the way to win the Oakleigh Plate at Caulfield. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.
The Lindsay Park training team of David and Ben Hayes and Tom Dabernig were back in the winner’s circle again for their second Group 1 win of the day after saddling up Catchy to win the Group 1 $1.5m Ladbrokes Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) forty minutes earlier.
Sheidel ($8) jumped quickly from gate three in the huge field and Moreira was able to settle the mare beautifully in front with her stabemate Faatinah ($41) not far away in the run.
The two Lindsay Park trained sprinters leveled up in the straight but the Magic Man was able to squeeze that little bit extra out of Sheidel who fought back bravely on the line to record her first Group 1 win.
Faatinah was one length behind in second spot while the $3.70 favourite Extreme Choice made up a heap of ground from the back to fill third spot.
Co-trainer David Hayes will now aimong Sheidel towards the Group 1 $1.25m Lexus Newmarket Handicap (1200m) at Flemington on March 11 before heading to Adelaide for the Group 1 $1m The Goodwood (1200m) at Morphettville on May 20 and the Group 1 $1m Robert Sangster Stakes (1200m) at Morphettville on May 6.
“We were really confident with her. I think that Perth form was very under rated and she was just spot on,” Hayes said.
“We will probably look at the Newmarket, she is beautiful weighted. She has got that Group 1 race.”
“I would like to keep her in Melbourne and then to Adelaide, the Goodwood and the Robert Sangster, the two one million dollars races in Adelaide.”
Co-trainer Tom Dabernig added that Sheidel was well overdue to collect her first Group 1 win.
“She has really deserved it. She has been narrowly defeated in a couple of Group 1s and today she travelled and never looked like she was going to get beat,” co-trainer Tom Dabernig said.
Back Sheidel next race at Ladbrokes.com.au enjoying the best early Newmarket Handicap 2017 odds online at the home of Odds Boost (T&Cs apply).
2017 Oakleigh Plate Results & Finishing Order
Caulfield Race 8 – 25/02/2017
| Finish | No. | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Margin | Bar. | Weight | Starting Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 5 | SHEIDEL | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig | Joao Moreira | – | 3 | 53kg | $8 |
| 2 | 7 | FAATINAH | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig | Ben Allen (a) | 1L | 7 | 52.5kg | $41 |
| 3 | 3 | EXTREME CHOICE | Mick Price | Craig Newitt | 1.1L | 9 | 54kg | $3.70F |
| 4 | 10 | HELLBENT | Darren Weir | Damian Lane | 1.6L | 13 | 52kg | $6 |
| 5 | 11 | MISS PROMISCUITY | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig | Ms Katelyn Mallyon | 3.35L | 12 | 52kg | $101 |
| 6 | 2 | FELL SWOOP | Matthew Dale | Damien Oliver | 3.55L | 8 | 56kg | $9.50 |
| 7 | 15 | I AM A STAR (NZ) | Shane Nichols | Craig Williams | 3.75L | 16 | 50kg | $9.50 |
| 8 | 12 | OCEAN EMBERS | Shea Eden | Jason Benbow | 3.95L | 17 | 52kg | $18 |
| 8 | 4 | KAEPERNICK | Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes | Kerrin McEvoy | 3.95L | 15 | 53kg | $11 |
| 10 | 1 | FLAMBERGE | Darren Weir | Brad Rawiller | 4.95L | 6 | 58kg | $21 |
| 11 | 18 | GUARD OF HONOUR | Kris Lees | Ben E Thompson (a) | 5.05L | 14 | 50kg | $31 |
| 12 | 14 | SHAKESPEAREAN LASS | Pat Carey | Ms Michelle Payne | 5.15L | 4 | 52kg | $151 |
| 13 | 16 | EL DIVINO | Darren Weir | Dean Yendall | 5.25L | 2 | 50kg | $21 |
| 14 | 6 | THERMAL CURRENT | Darren Weir | Dwayne Dunn | 5.35L | 11 | 53kg | $41 |
| 15 | 13 | READY SUNSHINE | Ryan Balfour | Michael Dee | 6.85L | 10 | 52kg | $201 |
| 16 | 9 | AEGEAN SEA | Clarry Conners | Beau Mertens (a) | 10.35L | 5 | 52kg | $301 |
| 17 | 8 | WILD RAIN | Mark Kavanagh | Stephen Baster | 10.45L | 1 | 52.5kg | $41 |
