Stradbroke on Shopaholic’s list

26 March 2012

Shopaholic (NZ) (Pins) has the Group One Stradbroke Handicap ambitiously short-listed as one of her winter missions after trainer Danny O’Brien decided against a Sydney autumn campaign for the filly.

O’Brien ordered a freshen up for the talented daughter of Pins to allow her time to get over a “torrid” unplaced run earlier this month in the Group Two Kewney Stakes (1600m) at Flemington.

The trainer said Shopaholic (NZ) would most likely resume in Brisbane in mid-May.

He has confirmed the Group One weight-for-age Tattersall’s Tiara (1400m) for fillies and mares in June 23 as her target.

But if she runs well enough first-up O’Brien is open to starting her in Queensland’s premier race, the Stradbroke (1400m) at Eagle Farm on June 9.

“She is a very high class filly,” O’Brien said.

“All her runs have been terrific for me but she had a torrid passage in the Kewney last start and is having a bit of a freshen-up now.”

A winner of five of 11 starts, the former New Zealand filly has won four of her seven runs since joining O’Brien’s stable last spring.

She finished 11th in the Kewney which was the first time she had not finished top four in Australia.

Her most notable performance was a photo finish win over Mosheen (Fasnet Rock) in the Group Three Vanity (1400m) at Flemington on February 18.

Mosheen has since franked the form with Group One wins against the colts in the Australian Guineas at Flemington and the Randwick Guineas.

Shopaholic (NZ) is raced by Garry Chittick, the proprietor of New Zealand’s famous Waikato Stud which stands Pins.

The filly is the first named foal of Splashing Out (NZ) (O’Reilly) who O’Brien trained to win the Group Three Thoroughbred Club Stakes.

Splashing Out (NZ) also ran second at Group One level when she chased speed machine Gold Edition home in the 2006 Ascot Vale Stakes.

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