Stakes bound filly shows measure of family talent

Memories of a former stable star were rekindled at Trentham on Wednesday for Robbie Patterson when Shamelia Kirk (NZ) (Shamexpress) made short work of her two-year-old rivals. 

The New Plymouth trainer produced the speedy filly to claim top honours in the Let’s Keep Racing At Trentham Supporters’ Club Sprint (1000m) and confirm plans for upcoming stakes assignments. 

A daughter of Shamexpress, Shamelia Kirk is a three-quarter sister to Coventina Bay (NZ) (Shamexpress), who won 11 races from Patterson’s stable and gave him his first taste of top-flight success in his own right. 

That was celebrated in the 2022 edition of the Gr.1 Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m) and at her following appearances added the Gr.1 New Zealand Stakes (2000m) at Ellerslie to her decorated record. 

“She was my first Group One on my own, when I was in partnership with Kevin Gray we won the New Zealand Oaks with Legs,” Patterson said. 

While Shamelia Kirk has showed her talent earlier than Coventina Bay, they physically share a lot in common. 

“They’ve both got the same attitude and same action, but she has come a year sooner than Coventina Bay who had back problems,” Patterson said. 

Runner-up on debut last month, Shamelia Kirk was quickly into stride to make the running and, under hands and heels riding from apprentice Jim Chung, sailed clear in the run home to score in a canter. 

“It’s what I expected should happen, it’s not always that easy in this game but she was too fast for them,” Patterson said. 

Her Trentham performance has now locked in cracks at next month’s Listed Castletown Stakes (1200m) and Listed Courtesy Ford Ryder Stakes (1200m). 

“We’ll see how she pulls up and if she’s fine then we’ll chase the black type,” Patterson said. 

“She’ll probably have two more runs before a break, we’ll probably keep away from the early three-year-old fillies’ races and on top of the ground she’ll scoot along.” 

Shamelia Kirk is raced under the EVB Ltd banner of Wayne Darling, who also bred and part-owned Coventina Bay and at the end of her career, she was sold at the Magic Millions Broodmare Sale for A$625,000 to Australasian powerhouse Yulong. 

“He was going to syndicate this one, but I said to him after she won her first trial that he should keep her on his own,” Patterson said.