Talented filly Shoals may have secured a Royal Ascot campaign with her stunning performance to take out the Group 1 $1m Robert Sangster Stakes (1200m) at Morphettville today.
Shoals, above winning the Surround Stakes at Randwick, was able to win her 3rd G1 with victory in the Robert Sangster Stakes at Morphettville. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.
Trainer Anthony Freedman will now discuss with owners John Messara and John Munz the possibility of Shoals heading to England after she claimed her third Group 1 win from only her tenth race start.
“She was dominant today and it was a very good race so she has gone up a couple of levels and we will give Royal Ascot a lot of thought,” Freedman said.
“If the decision is made, and we will have to talk to the two Johns, John Messara and John Munz, and if that is the decision she would fly out probably around the end of May.”
“She wouldn’t run again, she would just go to England and prepare for that.”
“She is an outstanding filly. Three Group 1s out of ten runs, not many do it.”
Freedman said he was confident that Shoals would run well today after working well on the tracks earlier in the week and he wasn’t too concerned with the a wide barrier draw.
“Her work on Tuesday was as good as before she won the Myer so I was pretty happy coming here,” Freedman said.
“The gate (15) didn’t worry me too, she likes a bit of clear air which she got today.”
Winning jockey Tim Clark only picked up the ride on Shoals late in the week when Mark Zahra, who was originally booked to ride the filly, was forced to give up the prized mount when he was unable to get down the filly’s weight of 55kg and the Sydney based hoop took full advantage of the situation.
Clark settled Shoals ($12) midfield from the wide gate and brought her down the middle of the straight to record a one and three quarter lengths win over last year’s winner Secret Agenda ($9.50) who also had a tough run from a wide barrier.
$91 outsider Mica Lil also ran on from the back to grab third spot while the $4.80 favourite Quilista didn’t get her own way in front today and faded in the straight to finish ninth.
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