Shopaholic Makes Dream Come True

21 February 2012

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”.

The Corner with Garry Chittick

It is not the easiest role, that of Chairman of our Thoroughbred Racing Board. Like all chairmanships, one’s mind is rarely not occupied with the responsibility. To our Chairman, I say thanks. A lifetime in the industry, Chairman of our largest club, it is difficult to identify someone more suited to the role.

14 May 2026

Sav’s girl Chispa targeting the Gr.1 Oaks

Savabeel filly Chispa enhanced her Queensland Oaks credentials with a dominant Randwick victory for Chris Waller and James McDonald, with the Pencarrow Stud-bred and raced filly surging clear over 1800 metres in impressive fashion.