Shamelia Kirk chasing black-type success before spring break

Promising New Zealand filly Shamelia Kirk will attempt to end her juvenile season on a winning note when she contests Friday’s Listed John Turkington Forestry Castletown Stakes (1200m) at Otaki.

The daughter of Shamexpress has impressed throughout her two-year-old campaign and trainer Robbie Patterson is confident she can add valuable black type before heading to the spelling paddock.

Patterson said the filly has continued to thrive since her most recent run and is ideally suited if rain arrives.

“She’s done very well since she last raced, I’ve just had to keep her happy,” the New Plymouth horseman said.

“She’s super fit and a heavy track won’t worry her, she’s got that action that allows her to skip over it and the ground will hinder others more than her.

“She’s a lovely horse to deal with, she’s dedicated to her job, but she always grabs the bit and wants to run along. She’s hard to gallop in company because she’s so fast and does a lot of work on her own.”

Regardless of Friday’s result, Patterson confirmed Shamelia Kirk will not back up in the Listed Phils Electrical & Gypsy Caravans Ryder Stakes (1200m), which is scheduled just two weeks later at the same venue.

“It’s only two weeks apart so she will go out for three weeks in the paddock and then come back for the spring and see where she’s at and how far she will get,” he said.

“She is a very fast filly and whether she’ll get a mile, on breeding she should but you never know, and there’s still some nice targets for three-year-old sprinters all through the season.”

Connections are hopeful the talented filly can secure her first stakes victory before returning in the spring to chase bigger targets as a three-year-old.