Shameless Star goes back-to-back at Wanganui
Peter and Trent Didham have had a big rap on Shameless Star, and the three-year-old filly is starting to live up to that billing, winning her fourth race, and second in succession, when taking out the Wanganui-Taranaki Racehorse Owners Association 3YO (1340m) at Wanganui on Saturday.
The daughter of Shamexpress rocketed out of the gates under in form apprentice jockey Toni Davies and found the fence before handing up to Came True. The field dawdled through the middle stages before Came True injected more pace into the race with 500m to go.
Turning for home, Came True veered wide sharply, leaving a clear passage for Shameless Star on the inside and she dashed away, opening up a growing margin on her rivals and eventually ran out a three-length victor over Roc All Night, with race favourite Circus Dancer at length back in third.
“I could feel her pulling at the turn and she has skipped home really nicely,” Davies said. “I could see Chris’ (Dell, Came True) horse hanging outside, I thought we would get that inside run and we were lucky enough to do so.
“She is a really nice filly, she works so nice at home and gallops really well, we are really happy with her.”
Trent Didham was pleased with the win said Shameless Star had shown similar ability to Group Three-winning stablemate and fellow three-year-old filly War Princess early on, and it has been good to see her development through the season.
“Early on we thought she galloped better than War Princess, but she was just weak, immature mentally and physically, and now she is starting to put it all together,” Didham said.
“She has been flying at home. She galloped pretty well on Tuesday and the team at home have done a good job, she is probably the best she has looked, she has kept weight this preparation and she looks like she is going to grow another leg after a spell.”
The spelling paddock may have to wait, with the Didhams now eyeing another three-year-old race to make the most of racing in age group company.
“We will probably get smashed in the rating points now so if there is another three-year-old race, we will go for that, but we will just see how she pulls up,” Didham said.
Bred by Windsor Park Stud, Shameless Star is out of winning Mastercraftsman mare Zuma, a half-sister to Group One performer Soubrettes.
Shameless Star was offered through Woburn Farm’s 2024 New Zealand Bloodstock Book 2 Yearling Sale draft where she was purchased by Exempt Bloodstock and co-trainer Peter Didham for $55,000.
She has gone on to win four and place in three of her 13 starts to date and has earned more than $74,000 in prizemoney.
