Shamal Wind has run her last race with connections keeping to an orginal plan to send the Oakleigh Plate winner to one of the northern hemisphere’s best stallions.
The Robert Smerdon-trained sprinter bows out of racing after finishing down the track in the King’s Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot.
Shamal Wind
She will be sent to Ireland to be mated with Sea The Stars, the stallion whose racing record included wins in the English Derby and the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.
“I thought it was the right decision but it was the decision of the connections at the finish,” Smerdon said.
“That was the plan when she came here, to have that run, go to Ireland to be covered and then go back to Australia.
“To run her in another race as an afterthought probably wasn’t ideal and it’s not going to impact her CV one way or the other.”
Smerdon said if he was given the opportunity to race another horse in Europe he would plan a different lead-up campaign.
“It makes me think that when you come over to this part of the world maybe a prep race is a good idea,” he said.
“She seemed better the day after.”
Shamal Wind never looked a winning chance under Ryan Moore in finishing 13th behind Goldream in the King’s Stand Stakes.
Her Oakleigh Plate win in February was one of eight victories in a 25-start career which returned more than $800,000 in stakes.
