Shamal Wind impressed onlookers with an impressive jump out victory at Caulfield this morning, but the talented filly is unlikely to be given the opportunity to compete at Group 1 level during the 2014 Spring Racing Carnival.
Shamal Wind will contest the Caulfield Sprint and Yellowglen Stakes during the 2014 Spring Racing Carnival. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia
Shamal Wind has been far from disgraced in her two starts at Group 1 level to date, finishing seventh in the Oakleigh Plate (1100m) at Caulfield on February 22 and fifth in the Robert Sangster Classic (1200m) at Morphettville on April 26, but assistant trainer Stuart Webb told Racing Victoria that connections do not believe the Dubawi filly is good enough to mix it with the likes of Lankan Rupee in the Group 1 Manikato Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on October 24 and the Group 1 VRC Sprint Classic (1200m) at Flemington on November 8.
“It’s nothing against her, she’s a very good horse, but she’s probably just below the level of a horse like Lankan Rupee,” Webb said.
Shamal Wind has not been seen at the races since her fair performance in the Robert Sangster Classic in April, but she showed no signs of rustiness in her jump out this morning and she led all the way to record a comfortable victory, despite being kept under a heavy hold.
Webb expects trainer Robert Smerdon to give Shamal Wind another jump out or trial before she returns to the races, but he is confident that the rising five-year-old will have taken plenty of benefit from her effort this morning.
“She’ll take good improvement out of today’s jump out,” Smerdon said.
“She was asked to have a very easy trial and without letting her head go she was still in front on the line.
“She’s looking good and her attitude is great.”
The Dubawi filly has scored six wins from her 17 race starts to date and has recorded two race wins in Listed events, but is yet to score a maiden victory at Group level after finishing in the placings in the Caulfield Sprint, Euclase Stakes, Birthday Card Stakes and Mumm Stakes last year.
Shamal Wind contested both the Group 2 Caulfield Sprint (1100m) at Caulfield on Caulfield Cup Day and the Group 2 Yellowglen Stakes (1200m) at Flemington on Victoria Derby Day last year and is set to contest both races again during the 2014 Spring Racing Carnival.
