Trainer Simon Zahra’s decision to aim Shesallshenanigans (Toronado) at the lucrative Showdown (1200m) at Sandown-Lakeside yesterday paid off as the daughter of Swettenham Stud’s Toronado (High Chaparral) ran out an impressive winner of the $1 million contest.
Ridden to perfection by Linda Meech, Shesallshenanigans pulled clear in the closing stages to beat Elphinstone (Street Boss) by three quarters of a length, while Treasurway (Starspangledbanner) was another head away in third.
The winning trainer had earmarked yesterday’s Dequetteville Stakes (Listed, 1050m) at Morphettville, but instead chose to hunt riches at Sandown and he said he would not be tempted by black-type this season.
“It’s a special day and I just love the way she went about it,” Zahra told Racing.com. “Very professional and just got the job done. I’m rapt for all the owners and all the staff.
“You’re backing your judgement and your owners are backing you, which is really important in this industry.
“She’s booked on a float (bound for the spelling paddock) on Monday. We’ll look after her. She’s looked after us. She’s been to Adelaide and was up quite early.
“She’s done her job. Last start and this start, black type. I bought her half-sister, so plenty of shares available in that.”
Meech said she was confident before the race that the filly could stretch out to 1200 metres but admitted to some doubts on turning for home.
“Her wheels really got spinning turning for home and I thought we were in trouble and that I’d sat this out and she’s not going to run the trip,” she told Racing.com.
“Once she got through that home turn, she really kicked into another gear. She’s a credit to Simon [Zahra]. She’s similar, not in size or stature, but her race brain is similar to She Dances. They just make life so much easier. They don’t spend any more petrol than they have to and they’ve got stacks of ability to go with it.”
Raced by syndicate headed by Ben Cooper’s Merricks Station, Shesallshenanigans (2 f Toronado – Segenhoe Valley by Dane Shadow) was purchased by Zahra for $115,000 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale from the Kulani Park draft last year. She is out of Segenhoe Valley (Dane Shadow), making her a sister to Listed winner Shelby Cobra.
Zahra reinvested in the filly’s family this year, paying $300,000 for the filly’s Brazen Beau (I Am Invincible) half-sister at the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale last month. In 2022, Segenhoe Valley sired a filly by Written Tycoon (Iglesia) and was covered by Toronado last November.
In winning the race, Shesallshenanigans became the second progeny of the Swettenham Stud-based Toronado to win the race, after his son Lucky Express took out the inaugural edition in 2019.
Since the beginning of the season, Toronado has sired 85 winners from 215 starters in Australia and they are spearheaded by eight stakes winners, including Group 1 winner Mariamia. Toronado will stand the 2023 breeding season for an unchanged fee of $88,000 (inc GST).
Article courtesy of ANZ Bloodstock News
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