The Danny O’Brien trained filly Shamrocker has completed the rare Australian Guineas/Australian Derby double at Randwick today.
Glen Boss rode the filly a treat from barrier 8 settling about midfield before travelling up to the leaders in the blink of an eye and the punters were queing up when she let down at the 250m mark.
Darley continued their brilliant day with Retrieve running a brave second whilst Anacheeva returned to some sort of form with a nice third.
Glen Boss takes out another Sydney Group 1 on board Shamrocker in the AJC Australian Derby - Photo by Steve Hart
Shamrocker has become the first filly in more than two decades to win the AJC Australian Derby.
Ridden by Glen Boss, Shamrocker produced a sweeping run to outstay Retrieve in the 150th running of the blue riband Classic at Randwick on Saturday.
In claiming the Group One, Shamrocker, the only filly in the field of 14, is the first of her sex to win the race since Research triumphed in 1989.
She becomes the ninth filly to win the race and it is also her second Group One triumph after she won the Australian Guineas at Flemington.
“I don’t think any filly has done what she has done,” trainer Danny O’Brien said.
“Winning the Australian Guineas and Australian Derby is a pretty extraordinary double.”
Shamrocker sat worse than midfield before being set alight with 600 metres to run.
She loomed quickly to join Retrieve and after a brief tussle, pulled clear over the final 100 metres.
Caulfield Guineas winner Anacheeva ran his best race of a modest autumn campaign to finish third.
Boss said Shamrocker was entitled to be rated a Cups contender later this year.
“I think they’ll be looking at the Caulfield Cup with her next season,” Boss said.
But first Shamrocker will be given her chance to make up for a VRC Oaks defeat when she lines up in the $550,000 AJC Oaks at Randwick next week.
AAP TURF
