Shamrocker (NZ) Wins G1 Australian Guineas

Saturday's A$755,000 Group 1 VRC Cadbury Australian Guineas (1600m) was just the stage Kiwi galloper Shamrocker was after to show her true class, as she powered her way to record her first Group 1 win.

In what was considered a wide open race, Shamrocker (O'Reilly x Bohemian Blues) was left to her own devices on the tote, but her performance left her rivals in her wake as she powered home to a three-quarters of a length win. Ridden beautifully by jockey Glen Boss, the authority of her performance has left no doubt that she is a very good filly with exceptional ability.

With a race that boasts an elite group of winners including Apache Cat, Heart of Dreams, Pins, Flying Spur and Zabeel, only two fillies, Triscay (1991) and Miss Finland (2007) have managed to upstage the boys, and with Saturday's win, Shamrocker has added her name to that famous list.

Shamrocker's trainer Danny O'Brien was very happy with the filly's performance.

"We kept her a little fresh going into the mile to give her a bit of an edge and she ran very well. The race was run to suit, she has plenty of strength and had a beautiful ride and finished the race off strongly.

"Her prep is going very well this season; she was very unlucky in the Wakeful Stakes in the spring and still ran a good second in the VRC Oaks. She has been coming along very nicely this campaign and we are starting to see the rewards which is great.

"As for her future plans, we have taken on the boys and beat them so the Rosehill Guineas is a race we are looking at, and then of course the Derby or the Oaks. We will decide what race she goes to after we assess her next start and go from there."

Shamrocker's Group 1 victory continues her love affair with Flemington, with her last win in the Group 2 VRC Sires Produce Stakes late last season. She also ran a very good second there to another Group 1 winning NZB graduate, Brazilian Pulse (Captain Rio), in the VRC Oaks.

Shamrocker has now won three of her ten starts for stakes earnings in excess of A$850,000. She is the eighth Group 1 winner for her outstanding sire O'Reilly who was again well-received at the Karaka Sales with 36 yearlings averaging $128,944. This included a top price of $480,000 paid for the half-brother to De Beers, out of Chimeara (Quest for fame).

Shamrocker was bred by Mrs M R & V Trillo and was bought by her trainer Danny O'Brien from Valachi Downs for $65,000 from the 2009 Karaka Select Sale. She is owned by Mr JR Dimery, Raffles Farm (Synd), Mr KJ Woolley, MR AJ Smith, Mr CP Wylie, MR JC Hitt, Mr RJ Callister & Mr SS Larkey and is the fifth Group 1 winner this season alone to come from the Karaka Select Sale.