Stradbroke on Shopaholic’s list

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.

AAP TURF

Recent News
21 January 2025

Hutchings confirmed for NZB Kiwi on Sought After

Australian-based, Kiwi-born jockey Rory Hutchings will ride Waikato Stud’s Sought After (Tivaci ex Popular), trained by Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott, in the southern hemisphere’s richest race at Ellerslie on 8 March. A last-start winner, Sought After is a Matamata nursery product with a pedigree tied to Sacred Falls.

Read More
20 January 2025

Super Seth 3YO strikes again in Hong Kong

Patch Of Cosmo (ex Thee) continues to showcase Super Seth’s potential in Hong Kong. Bred and sold by Waikato Stud, the three-year-old has claimed three victories under trainer Manfred Man, including a recent 1400m Class 3 win at Sha Tin. His pedigree traces back to stakes-winning Savabeel mare Thee.

Read More