Shopaholic Makes Dream Come True

When South Island breeders Grant and Philippa McKenzie decided on a short trip to Melbourne, they never dreamt they would end up on the dais at Flemington.

“We decided to head to Melbourne to see Rod Stewart and Black Caviar. So I rang my good friend Mark Chittick of Waikato Stud to see if he knew how we might go about getting some tickets for Flemington,” said Grant.

“Well, he got back to me and said he had jacked up some tickets and that he hoped we would bring him luck, as we would actually be representing Waikato Stud as the owners of Shopaholic (Pins) in the Gr.3 Vanity.”

Haven placed second in the race with Do Ra Mi (Savabeel) and Be Delicious (Danasinga), the McKenzie’s delivered this luck in spades for Waikato.
“It was a great run,” observed Grant.

“She was being hammered from the $1.40 hotpot Mosheen on one side and from Angel of Mercy on the other, but in that final 100m Shopaholic just bullocked her way through and got up in the very last stride.”

As the successful owners of the Gr.3 Wakefield Challenge Stakes winner Zablinka (Zabeel), the occasion was not lost on the McKenzie’s.

“I never dreamt that on our first trip to Flemington, we would see Black Caviar win one of her best, or end up on the dais accepting a trophy and sipping champagne in the Presidents Lounge!”

“To be honest, we felt very privileged to simply be in the parade ring before the race, let alone in the winner’s circle. It was a bit of a dream really”.

Recent News
2 July 2025

From Hong Kong to home, more winners for Ardrossan

Ardrossan’s winners’ list continues to grow with Pearl Of Pang’s saluting in Hong Kong and Sweetazme at New Zealand on Wednesday.

Read More
2 July 2025

Savannah Chill hot on debut

Savannah Chill opens her racing career a winner for Lindsay Park Racing at Sandown on Wednesday. Bred by Waikato Stud in partnership with Gary Wallace, she was sold by WS at the 2024 NZB Karaka Yearling Sale.

Read More