Speedy youngster in top form for Castletown
Flying filly Shamelia Kirk (NZ) (Shamexpress) will close out her juvenile campaign at Otaki with confidence in the camp that she can sign off as a black-type winner.
The speedy daughter of Shamexpress will head for a break after Friday’s Listed John Turkington Forestry Castletown Stakes (1200m) with trainer Robbie Patterson bullish of a successful finale.
“She’s done very well since she last raced, I’ve just had to keep her happy,” the New Plymouth horseman said.
“She’s super fit and a heavy track won’t worry her, she’s got that action that allows her to skip over it and the ground will hinder others more than her.
“She’s a lovely horse to deal with, she’s dedicated to her job, but she always grabs the bit and wants to run along. She’s hard to gallop in company because she’s so fast and does a lot of work on her own.”
Patterson is adamant that a winning run on Friday won’t tempt him to return to Otaki a fortnight later for the Listed Phils Electrical & Gypsy Caravans Ryder Stakes (1200m).
“It’s only two weeks apart so she will go out for three weeks in the paddock and then come back for the spring and see where she’s at and how far she will get,” he said.
“She is a very fast filly and whether she’ll get a mile, on breeding she should but you never know, and there’s still some nice targets for three-year-old sprinters all through the season.”
Shamelia Kirk is raced under the EVB Ltd banner of Wayne Darling, who also bred and part-owned close relation Coventina Bay, a two-time Group One winner for Patterson.
“We’re going to have a lot of fun with her and I’d love to see her get a mile, but the way she races you would question if she can get there,” he said.
Shamelia Kirk followed up her debut second at Woodville with a runaway victory at Trentham last time out under apprentice Jim Chung, who will make way for Craig Grylls on Friday.
“Craig always gets first pick if he’s available, Jim did a great job last time but we have to go for the senior rider,” Patterson said.
He also likes the chances of Yaldy Time at Otaki where the Time Test three-year-old will step out in the Jennian Homes Maiden (1200m) off the back of a runner-up finish at Woodville after a tardy start.
“If he does everything right at the gates, I’d like to think he’d be winning,” Patterson said.
He also holds a strong hand in the Hawera Club 3YO (1600m) at Saturday’s Egmont meeting with Capaci and Belles Boom in prime order.
“I can’t split them, they’re both nice horses and going very well,” Patterson said.
Third in the Gr.3 Eulogy Stakes (1600m) last preparation, Capaci was a dominant winner last time out at Wanganui while Belles Boom has placed in both appearances since returning from a spell.
