A plan hatched by Matamata brothers Paul and Kris Shailer to set their promising mare Lady Le Fay for the Listed Manawatu ITM Anzac 1600 at Awapuni was executed to perfection when the promising mare scored a convincing victory in the day's feature event.
On a track that was downgraded to a Heavy 11 after persistent showers
throughout the morning, the four-year-old daughter of Thorn Park made light of
the difficult conditions to produce an irresistible finishing burst to claim
the win.Ridden by Michael Coleman, the race fitness of Lady Le Fay along with the six kilogram weight differential over runner up Thorn Prince proved the telling factor, with consistent winter galloper Taurus battling on nicely for third.
Co-trainer Paul Shailer was understandably pleased with the mare's effort as she gathered her fifth career victory from just 12 starts and her first at stakes level.
"She's been targeted for this race since she came back from a spell," he explained.
"It was a two run plan so it's nice when that plan comes off.
"She's adept in any track conditions and my brother Kris and Emily Holmes, who has joined our team now, have done a wonderful job with her so all credit to them."
The lightly raced mare will now be put aside for a winter break before returning for a spring campaign that Shailer believes holds plenty of promise.
"She will go to the paddock now for about four weeks and then we will set her for a spring campaign," he advised.
"We're not sure where she will go but we will sit down with the owners and work it through with them."
The win for Lady Le Fay not only gave her valuable black-type for any future breeding career but also a fitting present for co-trainer Kris Shailer who announced his engagement on Sunday.
Lady Le Fay is a half-sister to Group III placed The Tidy Express and is from the family of international Group I winners Dank, Eagle Mountain and Sulk.
Runner-up Thorn Prince was brave in defeat with trainer Fraser Auret advising the six-year-old was likely to tackle the Listed James Bull Rangitikei Gold Cup back at Awapuni on the 16th of May as his next assignment. – NZ Racing Desk
