Everest part of Shoals' grand plan
For some, winning The Everest would be the peak of their racing achievements, but there are even grander plans afoot for one of the race’s in-form contenders, Shoals.
With three group one wins to her name already, the Fastnet Rock mare is the centrepiece of one of thoroughbred racing’s hottest families but that pedigree, which is highlighted by a close link to super stallion Redoute’s Choice, could gain some prime international influence next year.
Co-breeder and co-owner Jonathan Munz, of Pinecliff Racing, said from the US this week that the long-range plan for the mare was a date next year with a northern hemisphere stallion of the elite ilk of Galileo, Dubawi or Deep Impact.
“It’s a long way away but we’ll see how she comes through this race and the obvious [next] race would be the Darley on final day,” Munz said this week. “Then the T.J. [Smith] in the autumn and then we’d be off to England hopefully for [Royal] Ascot.
“Logically, she would stay and go to one of the best stallions in the northern hemisphere.”
It was intended to take her to Royal Ascot for the Golden Jubilee Stakes this year but it was decided to aim instead for The Everest in the belief that despite having no black type attached to the race, it is certain to carry sufficient international recognition for it to add further to her appeal.
Shoals is one of those rare racehorses whose performance matches her elite pedigree. Her dam The Broken Shore, is an unraced half sister to Redoute’s Choice out of Shantha’s Choice.
Munz and co-breeder John Messara (Arrowfield Pastoral), who purchased The Broken Shore at sale for A$1.8 million, kept Shoals and her sister Tides (yet to start) to race but sent the next Fastnet Rock, a colt, to the Sydney Easter sales, where he made the sale-topping price of A$2.3m.
That colt has begun his first preparation with trainer Anthony Freedman and was recently named Groundswell.
Next in line is a Medaglia D’Oro colt who is soon to be joined by another Fastnet Rock, with The Broken Shore due to foal shortly.
As for today’s The Everest, Munz said he expected Shoals to challenge for the bulk of the A$13 million on offer.
“She’s in good nick and she was very good the other day and I would say she’s advantaged by the wet track,” he said.
“She was the best run in the race two weeks ago [Premiere Stakes at Randwick],” he said. “She had a little bit of a blow afterwards and so will improve after the run, Anthony [Freedman] thought.
“She’s a very flexible sort of horse. You can ride her on the pace or off the pace.”