Shoals (horse)

Last updated
Shoals
Sire Fastnet Rock
Grandsire Danehill
DamThe Broken Shore
DamsireHussonet
SexMare
Foaled16 August 2014
CountryAustralia
Colour bay
OwnerPinecliff Racing and Arrowfield Pastoral Pty Ltd
TrainerAnthony Freedman
Record15-7-4-1
Earnings A$2,535,270
Major wins
Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes (G3)(2017)
Percy Sykes Stakes (G2)(2017)
Myer Classic (G1)(2017)
Surround Stakes (G1)(2018)
Robert Sangster Stakes (G1)(2018)
Last updated on 1 April 2019

Shoals is a retired Thoroughbred racehorse trained and bred in Australia. She won three Group One races and over two and half million dollars over her career.

Thoroughbred Horse breed developed for racing

The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed. Thoroughbreds are considered "hot-blooded" horses that are known for their agility, speed, and spirit.

Group One, Group 1, Grade I or G1 is the term used for the highest level of Thoroughbred and Standardbred stakes races in many countries. In Europe, the level of races for Thoroughbred racing is determined using the Pattern race system introduced in 1971 and monitored by the European Pattern Committee. To attain or maintain a Group One status, the average rating for the first four finishers in the race must be 115 or higher over a three year period. The International Federation of Horseracing Authorities works to ensure consistent international standards. Group One races may only be restricted to age groups or a stipulated sex: they should not be restricted to horses bred in a certain country. Group One (G1) races may be run under handicap conditions in Australia, but in Europe weight-for-age conditions always apply.

Career

Shoals made her debut on 21 February 2017 at Seymour, winning by 4 lengths. 4 weeks later, she won the Group 3 Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes. Opening with bookies at $7, she was backed into $2.70 by the start of the race, winning by half a length. [1]

The Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes is a Victoria Racing Club Group 3 Thoroughbred horse race for fillies aged two years old, run at set weights with penalties, over a distance of 1200 metres. It is held at Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne, Australia in March during the VRC Autumn Racing Carnival. Total prize money for the race is A$160,000.

Travelling to Sydney for the Group 2 Percy Sykes Stakes, Shoals was a "well supported" favourite in a "gritty win", coming from 2nd last down the straight to win by a half head. Trainer Anthony Freedman said, "She's a very tenacious filly. I don't think she really handled the ground all that well but she just has a great will to win." [2]

The Percy Sykes Stakes, registered as the Keith Mackay Handicap, is an Australian Turf Club Group 2 Thoroughbred horse race, for two year old fillies, at set weights with penalties, over a distance of 1200 metres, held at Randwick Racecourse in Sydney, Australia in the autumn during the ATC Championships series. It is run on the same day as the Sydney Cup. Total prize money for the race is A$1,000,000.

After a 154-day spell, Shoals returned in a listed race at Moonee Valley, winning her 4th consecutive race by 3/4 of a length. Jockey Mark Zahra said, "as soon as I got in front she had her head in the air going to the post. If something had challenged on the outside I would have just been off and gone again." [3]

Moonee Valley Racecourse

Moonee Valley Racecourse is a horse-racing track in Melbourne, Australia.

On 1 October 2017, Shoals contested the Thousand Guineas Prelude, running second to Booker. A fortnight later, blinkers were put on for the Group 1 Thousand Guineas, [4] where she again ran 2nd.

The Thousand Guineas Prelude, registered as the Tranquil Star Stakes, is a Melbourne Racing Club Group 2 Thoroughbred horse race, for three year old fillies, at set weights with penalties, over a distance of 1400 metres, held annually at Caulfield Racecourse, Melbourne, Australia in late September. Total prize money for the race is A$200,000. This event is a preparation race for the prestigious Group 1 The Thousand Guineas later in October at Caulfield.

The Thousand Guineas is a Melbourne Racing Club Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race for three year old fillies at set weights run over a distance of 1600 metres at Caulfield Racecourse, Melbourne, Australia in early October. Total prize money for the race is A$500,000.

The only filly in the Myer Classic weight-for-age race for females, and with new jockey Dean Yendall aboard, Shoals won her first Group 1 race by half a head. Freedman said, "We were initially a little disappointed with her last run. The winner has proven to be high quality and we got confident when that filly won last Saturday." [5]

The Empire Rose Stakes, is a Victoria Racing Club Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race held under Weight for Age conditions, for fillies and mares aged three-years-old and upwards, over a distance of 1600 metres, held at Flemington Racecourse, Melbourne, Australia during the VRC Spring Carnival on Victoria Derby day. Total prize money for the race is A$500,000.

After a three month break, Shoals finished eighth of nine in the Kevin Hayes Stakes in February 2018. She was given another trial before winning her 2nd Group 1, The Surround Stakes, in March. With Blake Shin suspended, Joshua Parr was given the ride. He said, "I’m lost for words to be honest. It is never nice for someone’s misfortune to become my good fortune but gee, the amount of times that happens in this industry, and probably life itself, it’s uncanny how it works. She is a very tough filly and that's what she showed out there." [6]

On 5 May, Shoals won the Robert Sangster Stakes, where it was said she, "smashed some of Australia’s best racemares with a devastating show of acceleration." [7] With her connections intending to contest events in England from June, there was then a possible change of plans. "A couple of hours after the race, interest was shown by an Everest slot-holder. Over the next two or three months we’re going to have to make a decision on whether she races on into next year or whether that will be enough. Both owners are breeders as well and like to breed out of lightly raced mares essentially. At the moment she’s only had 10 starts," John Messara said. [8]

After two trials in August, Shoals returned for a third in the McEwen Stakes. On September 29, she finished 2nd in the Premiere Stakes behind Santa Ana Lane, who set a new track record for the Randwick 1200 metres. [9] She then came second-last in The Everest.

Shoals returned after a five month spell in the Canterbury Stakes on 9 March 2019, finishing second behind Trapeze Artist. She was then entered in the Group 1 William Reid Stakes. Freedman said, "Her next couple of runs are likely to be in Sydney but that will be up to the weather. She has won on the heavy in her early days but she didn't handle it in The Everest. She's going to stud this year so she won't have too many more runs." [10] She was scratched the day before the race, with the stable saying she had a bruised foot. [11]

Shoals last race was the TJ Smith Stakes on 6 April, where she finished eighth. Freedman said, "She pulled up a little sore after the race. She is better this morning escaping serious injury, but in any case she's retired now and has run her last race for us. She has been a wonderful mare for the stable and a privilege to train. She has nothing left to prove on the track and with her pedigree, she is a very valuable broodmare." [12]

Related Research Articles

Makybe Diva British-bred Australian Thoroughbred racehorse

Makybe Diva is a British-bred, Australian-trained Thoroughbred racehorse who became the first horse to win the Melbourne Cup on three occasions. In 2005, she also won the Cox Plate. Upon her retirement from racing in November 2005, Makybe Diva was the highest stakes-earner in Australian horse racing history, finishing with winnings of more than A$14 million. She is one of only five horses to have won the Cup more than once, and the only mare among the list of multiple winners. She is also one of only 14 female horses to have won the Cup.

Lee Freedman Australian horse trainer

David Lee Freedman is an Australian thoroughbred racehorse trainer. and Hall of Fame inductee. In partnership with brothers Anthony, Michael, and Richard, he has been a prolific winner of Australia's major races in past 20 years, with four Golden Slippers, four Caulfield Cups, two Cox Plates, and five Melbourne Cups, including two of the three won by Makybe Diva. On 19 June 2007 he won the prestigious King's Stand Stakes at the United Kingdom's Royal Ascot racecourse with his champion mare, Miss Andretti.

Alinghi was an Australian Thoroughbred racemare who won four Group One races, including the Newmarket Handicap, and earned A$4,161,740 in total prize money. She was by the leading sire, Encosta De Lago from Oceanfast by Monde Bleu (GB). Oceanfast's racing record was 12 starts for 2 wins, 3 seconds and 3 thirds for $82,760 and Alinghi is her only stakes winner until July 2009.

Tranquil Star Australian-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Tranquil Star was one of the hardiest and best performed Australian-bred Thoroughbred race-mares. She is the only mare to have won the double of the Caulfield Stakes, now known as the Yalumba Stakes, and the Cox Plate, which is the most prestigious weight-for-age (wfa) race in Australia. Tranquil Star had 111 starts and won over distances ranging from 5 furlongs to 14 furlongs. She was later inducted into the Australian Racing Hall of Fame.

Black Caviar Australian-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Black Caviar is a retired champion Australian Thoroughbred racehorse undefeated in 25 races, including 15 Group One victories, eclipsing the previous mark set by Kingston Town. She was named WTRR World Champion Sprinter in 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013. Black Caviar was trained by Melbourne-based trainer Peter Moody, and apart from her first two runs, in which Jarrad Noske rode her, was ridden by Luke Nolen in all her starts except for the 2010 Patinack Farm Classic, where Ben Melham rode her while Nolen was suspended. She was retired on 17 April 2013.

Time Charter Thoroughbred racehorse

Time Charter was an Irish-bred, British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare who won several major middle-distance races between 1982 and 1984. After winning twice as a two-year-old in 1981, she developed into a classic filly in the following year, finishing second in the 1000 Guineas before winning The Oaks in record time. Later that year she won the Sun Chariot Stakes before beating a field of colts and older horses by seven lengths in the Champion Stakes. As a four-year-old she won England's premier weight-for-age race, the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes and successfully conceded seven pounds to the outstanding French filly All Along in the Prix Foy. In 1984 she recorded an impressive four length victory in the Coronation Cup and was retired from racing at the end of the year having won nine of her twenty races. She later became a very successful broodmare.

Balanchine (horse) American-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Balanchine is a retired Thoroughbred racehorse, bred in the United States and trained in the United Kingdom and Dubai. In a racing career which lasted from September 1993 until October 1995 she ran eight times and won four races. After winning both her races a two-year-old Balanchine was narrowly beaten in the 1994 1000 Guineas before winning the Classic Epsom Oaks. She then recorded her most important success when defeating male opposition in the 1994 Irish Derby. After recovering from a life-threatening illness, she returned in 1995 but failed to win. Balanchine was one of the first important successes for Godolphin Racing.

Cape Verdi is a retired, Irish-bred Thoroughbred racehorse. She was trained in England and Dubai during a racing career which consisted of eight races between May 1997 and July 1999. In 1998 she won the 1000 Guineas by five lengths and was the beaten favourite in The Derby. She was named the European Champion Three-Year-Old Filly at the 1998 Cartier Racing Awards. Cape Verdi was retired after two unsuccessful races as a four-year-old in 1999.

Silent Achiever is a champion New Zealand Thoroughbred racehorse. On 3 March 2012, she won the 137th running of the New Zealand Derby. She was the first filly to win the race since 1993, and only the fourth in the last 45 years.

Wince is a British Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. In a racing career which lasted from June 1998 to May 1999 she ran nine times and won four races. After winning twice from six starts as a two-year-old, she won the Fred Darling Stakes at Newbury. On her next appearance Wince won the Classic 1000 Guineas at Newmarket Racecourse. On her only subsequent appearance she finished unplaced in the Irish 1000 Guineas at the Curragh three weeks later. At the end of her three-year-old season she was retired from racing to become a successful broodmare.

Height of Fashion was French-bred, British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. Owned and bred by Queen Elizabeth II, was undefeated in her three races as a two-year-old in 1981, winning the Acomb Stakes, May Hill Stakes and Fillies' Mile. In the following year she added a win in the Lupe Stakes before a record-breaking victory in the Princess of Wales's Stakes. She ran poorly in her two remaining races and was retired to stud at the end of the season. Height of Fashion proved to be an exceptional broodmare, producing the major stakes winners Unfuwain, Nashwan and Nayef. She died in Kentucky in 2000.

Quick As Lightning was an American-bred, British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse best known for winning the classic 1000 Guineas in 1980. She was one of the leading British-trained juvenile fillies of 1979, when she won two of her three races including the Hoover Fillies' Mile. In the following year, she finished third on her debut before defeating twenty-two opponents in the 1000 Guineas. She never won again, although she finished fourth when favourite for The Oaks and was narrowly beaten in the Coronation Stakes. She was later transferred to the United States, where she failed to win in three races before dying in 1981 at the age of four.

Polygamy (horse) British-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Polygamy was a British Thoroughbred racehorse, best known for winning the classic Epsom Oaks in 1974. As a two-year-old in 1973, she showed promise by winning three races and finishing fourth in the Criterium des Pouliches. In the following spring she won the 1000 Guineas Trial Stakes and was narrowly beaten in the 1000 Guineas before winning the Oaks. She was retired after being beaten in her only subsequent race and died without producing a foal.

Magical Romance is an Irish-bred British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. In a racing career which lasted from June 2004 until September 2005, she won three of her nine races. As a two-year-old in 2004, she won two minor races but then recorded a 40/1 upset victory in Group One Cheveley Park Stakes. She failed to win or place in four starts in 2005, and was retired from racing at the end of that year. In 2006, she was bought for 4.6 million guineas, a world- record price for a broodmare sold at auction.

Exosphere (horse) Australian-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Exosphere is a retired Thoroughbred racehorse trained and bred in Australia. He won the Golden Rose Stakes, a Group one race, and accumulated over a million dollars in winnings. He was known for his large size.

Tarzino is a retired Thoroughbred racehorse and active sire bred in New Zealand and trained and Australia. He won the Victoria Derby and Rosehill Guineas, both Group One races. He has won over one and a half million dollars.

Suavito is a retired Thoroughbred racehorse formally trained by Nigel Blackiston at Flemington Racecourse. She was bred in New Zealand by IDL Racing Ltd, and was raced throughout her entire career in Australia. She was a multiple group winner and won over $1,000,000 in prize money.

Just The Judge Irish-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Just The Judge was an Irish-bred British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare who won major races in both Europe and North America. She was unbeaten in three starts as a two-year-old in 2012 including the Listed Washington Singer Stakes and the Group Two Rockfel Stakes. In the following year she finished second in the 1000 Guineas before winning the Irish 1000 Guineas and finishing third in the Coronation Stakes. As a four-year-old she produced her best form in North America where she won the E P Taylor Stakes as well as being placed in the Beverly D. Stakes and the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf. After being sold for a record price of 4.5 million guineas at the end of 2014 she was beaten on her only start as a five-year-old and was retired from racing to become a broodmare.

Winter (horse) Irish-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Winter is an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse. She won one minor race from three starts as a two-year-old in 2016, but made considerable improvement in the following spring and won the 1000 Guineas on her fifth racecourse appearance. She went on to record further Group 1 victories in the Irish 1000 Guineas, Coronation Stakes and Nassau Stakes.

Ultra Thoroughbred Racing

Ultra Thoroughbred Racing Pty Ltd is a racing syndicate and breeder of Thoroughbred racehorses based in Melbourne, Victoria and owned by Sean Buckley. Although based in Melbourne, the company has significant interests throughout Australia, with land holdings in Victoria and the Hunter Valley in New South Wales. The business primarily bases its racing interests in Australia, however, races internationally with a particular focus on the New Zealand market in recent times.

References

  1. James Lamb and Costa Rolfe. "Punters post-race: Golden Slipper day in review". punters.com.au.
  2. Tom Walter. "Shoals stays undefeated with gritty win in 2017 Percy Sykes Stakes". racenet.
  3. Matthew Toogood. "Shoals stamps class at Moonee Valley". the informant.
  4. Matthew Toogood. "Blinkers for Shoals in Thousand Guineas". Bloodstock.com.au.
  5. "Shoals wins G1 Myer Classic at Flemington". punters.com.au.
  6. Chris Roots. "Parr makes the most of pick-up ride Shoals in the Surround Stakes". Sydney Morning Herald.
  7. Ben Scadden. "Anthony Freedman filly Shoals on track to Royal Ascot after Robert Sangster Stakes win". news.com.au.
  8. Brendan Cormick. "Connections face a big decision of racing future of Shoals". The Australian.
  9. Ray Thomas. "Anthony Freedman pair Santa Ana Lane and Shoals close in on Everest". Daily Telegraph.
  10. "Shoals chases another G1 in William Reid". punters.com.au.
  11. Carl di Lorio. "Shoals scratched from William Reid". racing.com.
  12. "Shoals retired". Freedman Racing.