Mornington horseman Anthony Freedman said serious considerations for a Royal Ascot bid in England would be made after the dominant Robert Sangster Stakes 2018 win at Morphettville on Saturday by class filly Shoals.
Class filly Shoals could be Royal Ascot bound after winning the 2018 Robert Sangster Stakes in Adelaide. Photo: Jenny Barnes.
The brilliant daughter of Fastnet Rock made it three Group 1 victories from just 10 career starts with her powerhouse victory over the older mares in the Group 1 $1 million Robert Sangster Stakes (1200m).
The first three-year-old filly to salute in the Adelaide Autumn Racing Carnival classic since Rostova (2010), Shoals continued her outstanding form and went to yet another level saluting over the 1200m.
Last Melbourne Cup Carnival she beat the mares home over the Flemington mile in the Group 1 Myer Classic (1600m), while her last start produced a victory at Randwick in the Group 1 Surround Stakes (1400m).
She has now won Group 1 races across three states over varying distances earning a possible trip overseas for the Royal Ascot Carnival next month.
“Her work on Tuesday was as good as before she won the Myer, so I was pretty happy coming here,” Freedman said post-win.
“She’s an outstanding filly, three Group 1s from 10 runs, not many do it.
“She was dominant today and it was a very good race so she’s gone up a couple of levels and we’ll give Royal Ascot a lot of thought.”
Sydney jockey Tim Clark picked up the late ride on Shoals in the Robert Sangster Stakes after jockey Mark Zahra ruled himself out earlier in the week announcing he would be unable to make the weight.
It proved an incredible bit of luck for Clark who came away with the elite level win.
Shoals was one of the first to leave the gates, Clark given a bit of a task to get her into a nice position from the wide barrier 15 of 17 draw that had never bothered her trainer.
“The gate didn’t worry me too much, she likes a bit of clear air,” Freedman explained.
After being quick away, Shoals drifted back allowing Missrock on the inside and It’s Been a Battle to fight it out up front as the t leaders from race favourite Quilista and Formality.
Once on the straight however Shoals ($12) showed off a blistering turn of foot charging home down the outside running to the lead at the 150m before bursting away for an effortless win.
She held a one and three-quarter length winning margin over the Mick Price-trained reigning Robert Sangster Stakes winner Secret Agenda who had ($9.50) to settle for second in her title defence.
“She began really well,” Clark said.
“She was able to slot into a good spot.
“When I asked her to click up into the bridle she was there for me and she was very dominant.
“I got there [to the front] too soon…but she’s a tough filly.
“She was always going to run out the trip strongly and she ran through the line strongly.”
Adding huge value to the Robert Sangster Stakes trifecta in third at blowout odds of $91 was the local Mark Minervini-trained Testa Rosa four-year-old Mica Lil in the run of her career.
Freedman confirmed that should the decision to go to Royal Ascot be made, Shoals would not race again down under ruling out a shot at Morphettville’s Group 1 $1 million The Goodwood (1200m) on May 19.
“She wouldn’t come back for The Goodwood if the decision is made…she’d fly up around the end of May and she wouldn’t run again she’d just go to England and prepare for that,” he said.
To back the impressive Robert Sangster Stakes winner Shoals next race at the guaranteed best horse racing odds online head to Ladbrokes.com.au today.
2018 Robert Sangster Stakes Results & Finishing Order
Morphettville Race 7 – 05/05/2018
| Place | # | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Margin | Br. | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 14 | SHOALS | Anthony Freedman | Tim Clark | – | 15 | 55kg | $12 |
| 2 | 1 | SECRET AGENDA | Mick Price | Damien Oliver | 1.7L | 13 | 56.5kg | $9.50 |
| 3 | 12 | MICA LIL | Mark Minervini | Shayne Cahill | 2.6L | 9 | 56.5kg | $91 |
| 4 | 18 | TRUE EXCELSIOR (NZ) | Leon & Troy Corstens | Stephen Baster | 2.9L | 14 | 55kg | $151 |
| 5 | 7 | WHISPERING BROOK | Darren Weir | Dean Yendall | 2.9L | 3 | 56.5kg | $8 |
| 6 | 13 | MYSTIFIED | Ryan Balfour | Damien Thornton | 3.3L | 6 | 56.5kg | $151 |
| 7 | 15 | CATCHY | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig | Dwayne Dunn | 3.3L | 7 | 55kg | $6.50 |
| 8 | 4 | MISSROCK | Robbie Laing | Ben Melham | 4L | 10 | 56.5kg | $15 |
| 9 | 6 | QUILISTA | Darren Weir | Damian Lane | 4.1L | 1 | 56.5kg | $4.80F |
| 10 | 10 | LEGLESS VEUVE (NZ) | Henry Dwyer | Chris Parnham | 4.3L | 11 | 56.5kg | $31 |
| 11 | 3 | SUPER CASH | Andrew Noblet | Craig Williams | 4.4L | 8 | 56.5kg | $13 |
| 12 | 9 | PEDRENA | Mick Price | Michael Dee | 4.6L | 16 | 56.5kg | $31 |
| 13 | 5 | DAINTY TESS | Daniel Morton | Jamie Kah | 5.1L | 4 | 56.5kg | $12 |
| 14 | 16 | FORMALITY | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig | Kerrin McEvoy | 6.1L | 2 | 55kg | $9 |
| 15 | 17 | TULIP | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig | Regan Bayliss | 6.1L | 17 | 55kg | $26 |
| 16 | 8 | MISS GUNPOWDER | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig | Jason Holder | 7L | 5 | 56.5kg | $61 |
| 17 | 11 | IT’S BEEN A BATTLE | Shane Oxlade | Justin Potter | 8L | 12 | 56.5kg | $101 |
| – | 2 | VIDDORA | Lloyd Kennewell | Joe Bowditch | – | 0 | – | – |
