Shamal Wind continues to please trainer Robert Smerdon as she completes her preparations for her trip to Royal Ascot.
The Oakleigh Plate winner will fly to England next week Wednesday ahead of a tilt at the Group One King’s Stand Stakes.
Shamal Wind
She had her final public hit-out on Monday morning when second in an 800m barrier trial at Cranbourne with Damien Oliver aboard.
Shamal Wind settled back in the field and moved up behind the leader and eventual winner Cruden Bay in the straight, getting off the rail and into clear running in the last 100m.
Smerdon said Oliver kept Shamal Wind going through the line to ensure the mare got what she needed out of the trial.
“I was really happy,” Smerdon said.
“It was what we wanted, just a nice gallop and everything is coming together.
“He wanted to give her a more testing hit-out in the straight but he had no real galloping room getting up behind those horses so he said he kept her going through the line to make sure she had a decent gallop.
“We were pretty pleased with that. It was good.”
Oliver was riding Shamal Wind for the first time to acquaint himself with the mare in case he is called on to ride her in the King’s Stand Stakes on June 16.
Champion English jockey Ryan Moore has first option on the ride and Smerdon says if he does not have a commitment to Coolmore in the race, he will ride Shamal Wind.
Should Moore be unavailable, Oliver, who will partner the Gai Waterhouse-trained Wandjina in the Diamond Jubilee at the meeting, will get the call-up.
Choisir (2003), Takeover Target (2006), Miss Andretti (2007) and Scenic Blast (2009) are Australian-trained sprinters to have won the King’s Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot.
