Lady Shenandoah delivered a dominant performance in the Light Fingers Stakes at Randwick, setting the stage for a highly anticipated showdown with unbeaten stablemate Autumn Glow.
Despite securing victory by 1-1/4 lengths over Golden Slipper winner Lady Of Camelot, the ease of her win suggested she had plenty left in reserve.
Winning jockey Zac Lloyd praised the Chris Waller-trained filly, who justified her $2.40 favouritism with betting sites, highlighting her effortless speed and smooth action.
“You don’t get that feeling often. She is a pleasure to ride and it’s an honour to ride these types of horses for Mr Waller,” Lloyd said.
“In her second trial, Mr Waller said, ‘close to a speeding ticket there,’ but she just does it so easily, you don’t really know how fast you’re going.
“She just glides over the ground. She’s got the most efficient action. She came around that bend and you just feel like it’s ‘game over.’ She is a very nice filly.”
A winner of the Group 1 Flight Stakes (1600m) last spring, Lady Shenandoah is now set to contest the Surround Stakes (1400m) at Randwick in two weeks.
Stablemate Autumn Glow remains on track for the same race, though Waller’s assistant trainer, Charlie Duckworth, admitted they were in a race against time to have her ready. A trial this week will determine her fitness.
Duckworth refused to declare a clear stable star if the two fillies go head-to-head.
“It’s very hard to work out exactly how they measure up against each other until they face each other,” he said.
“She (Lady Shenandoah) is obviously an incredible athlete and was aided by an absolutely stunning ride by Zac. He got her in a beautiful position from what could have been a slightly sticky draw, and she has gone about her business beautifully and has accelerated.
“Lady Of Camelot is no slouch to try and run past in the concluding stages, and she seems to have done it with a bit in hand.
“She gets up over a lot further than the 1200, so to do it first-up, she is going to take a world of beating next start.”
Waller also saddled Lazzura (fourth), Amelita (sixth), and Declichy Boulevard (seventh), with all three expected to progress to the Surround Stakes.
Meanwhile, Godolphin’s Inhibitions ($13) capitalized on an ideal run to claim the Triscay Stakes (1200m), defeating previously unbeaten Clear Thinking ($4 fav) and stablemate Commemorative ($4.40).
Trainer James Cummings, who was at Flemington for Traffic Warden’s Lightning Stakes run, believes both Godolphin mares have more to offer.
“It’s a good result for the farm. Both mares in the race are stakes winners, but I’ve got a feeling there’s a little bit more ahead of both of them,” Cummings said.
