3 minute read

Stakes success hands late stallion O’Reilly with 96th stakes winner.

The Tony Gollan-trained Shalwa (5 m ex Futoon by Elusive Quality) provided the late Waikato Stud-based sire O'Reilly (Last Tycoon) with his 96th stakes winner when she landed the Helen Coughlan Stakes (Listed, 1350m) at Doomben on Saturday. 

Ready To Prophet (Smart Missile) led Saturday's race with Shalwa sitting just off her to her outside before taking over in the straight approaching the 200 metre under Baylee Nothdurft.

Krone (Eurozone) was charging late but Shalwa held on to score by a neck with Jen Rules (Redoute's Choice) also closing strongly to finish another three quarters of a length away third.

The 1350 metre race for fillies and mares offered a ballot exemption to the winner into next Saturday's Stradbroke Handicap (Gr 1, 1400m) but Shalwa is not among the nominations for the Group 1 race and Gollan does not feel she is quite Group 1 class. 

"Definitely never had any real thoughts about the Stradbroke with her. It probably wouldn't be ideal anyway, she's probably not that grade," Gollan said.

"But this was always her sort of race to really set her for in the carnival. She loves Doomben and loves 1350 metres."It panned out that she was going to probably be able to control the speed outside the lead and she's just been racing so well.

"I think she had her first start this prep in September so she's done a great job to continue on until now."

The mare is the only winner out of placed mare Futoon (Elusive Quality), who is herself out of dual Group 1 winner Flitter (Bluebird). Flitter also produced Unconditional Love (Elusive Quality), who in turn produced Group 2 winner Jessy Belle (Rock Of Gibraltar). 

Flitter also produced Flittery (Danehill), who produced Listed-placed Maybe I (Red Ransom) - the dam of Group 2 winner Ringerdingding (Sebring). 

Shalwa's unraced sister Ishraqa was purchased by Exact Civil Construction for $20,000 at the 2019 Inglis Digital Monthly February Sale.