From The Paddock

Punters - DID YOU TAKE NOTE?

Dane Shadow finished his first year at stud the way he started it, leaving the astute breeders and race goers with no choice but to stand up and take note! Something is going on with this stallion.... This week Dane Shadow had 4 two year olds running, finishing 1st (Hurtle Myrtle, Canterbury), 2nd (Vain Shadow, Gosford) and 3rd (Gunner Knox, Canterbury).

As mentioned in last weeks From The Paddock - Hurtle Myrtle has been extremely impressive to date in her trials and carried that over to defeat the $1.5m Encosta De Lago x Special Harmony filly, Little Surfer Girl in what appears to be a very strong form race for the Spring. Trainer Matt Smith has hinted at the Golden Rose or Princess Series for the filly who despite unveiling a blistering turn of speed is no doubt as per a number of the breed, looking for further. Dane Shadow is in the position to potentially have 3 serious contenders for the Group 1 Golden Rose in Shellscrape (who was reported to have trialled magnificently on Tuesday), Shadow Miss and now Hurtle Myrtle. If so, it is likely that this will be matched by any other stallion and all off a limited book of 60 live foals. Something is going on......

Vain Shadow ran a remarkable second at Gosford on Thursday - this filly has everyone talking and could also be something special. Punters, make sure you see the replay (www.bestbets.com.au). Something is going on.....

So the first season is over and Dane Shadow has finished with 7 winners and prizemoney of $700,045 placing him third behind Fastnet Rock and Charge Forward (another 4 Dane Shadow 2YOs have finished second in the last month). If you level the playing field by averaging the prize money per live foal, Dane Shadow blows them all away. If you say if?? Well the one thing we can say for sure is the market will level the playing field over time both with quality mares and mare numbers. Astute breeders are on to this fact and in 2009 the process of leveling the playing field has begun. One wonders where this stallion will sit once the playing field is level.

So why is it all unfolding in such a way? Aside from the all conquering Danehill and possibly just a little bit of input from those magical hills at Kitchwin, the champion CENTAINE mare below probably has something to do with it.

Is there a son of Danehill at stud anywhere in the world with a mum who acheived this.......?

SLIGHT CHANCE (NZ), Bl. f. 1989, Centaine (AUS) -- Lady Aloof, by Sir Godfrey (FR).

At 2   Won QTC Sires Produce S. [G1] (1400 m.), Castlemaine S. [G1] (1600 m.), AJC Kindergarten S. [L] (1100 m.), STC 2 YO Fillies H. (1100 m.), 2 YO H. (1500 m.). 2nd STC Sweet Embrace S. [G3], AJC Keith Mackay Quality H. [L], 2 YO Fillies H. 4th AJC Champagne S. [G1].
At 3  Won VRC Oaks [G1] (2500 m.), QTC Queensland Oaks [G1] (2400 m.), AJC Flight S. [G1] (1600 m.), STC Ansett Australia - Storm Queen S. [G1] (2000 m.), Tattersalls Club (nsw) Roman Consul S. [G3] (1200 m.). 2nd AJC AJC Oaks [G1], Light Fingers S. [G3], STC Heritage S. [L]. 3rd MVRC W.S. Cox P. [G1], QTC Queensland Guineas [G2]. 4th STC Winfield Cla ssic [G1], AJC Surround S. [G2].
At 4  Won QTC Qantas Longreach H. [L] (1500 m.). 3rd AJC George Main S. [G1].
At 5  Won STC Hill S. [G2] (1900 m.). 2nd AJC Warwick S. [G2].

Weekend Acceptances

Saturday August 1

Australia
STC
4:55pm Race 8 Country & Regional Living Expo H., A$70000 1350m
The Invincible One (AUS) 2004 (G. by Invincible Spirit-Citatous) - Consistent Galloper who is yet to miss a place in 7 starts. Heavy wont worry him. Good luck Carl

Sunday August 2

SCTC -Sunshine Coast
12:40pm Race 1 Caloundra Rsl Maiden P., A$10000 1400m
Shadow Buster (AUS) 2006 (G. by Dane Shadow-We Love Coffs) - He flew home at his first start very impressively - and whilst he has drawn the car park he is by Dane Shadow - dont be surprised, Good luck Gino