Shamus Award Filly Wins $175,000 Aquis Crystal Slipper

Widden Stud’s Cox Plate winner Shamus Award featured at Doomben on Saturday when his exciting filly Malahide scored a resounding win in the $175,000 BRC Aquis Crystal Slipper.

Trained at the Gold Coast by Michael Costa, Malahide was an easy debut winner on her home track earlier this month and kept right on with the job in this tougher assignment over 1200 metres.

She zoomed home from back in the field under Scott Galloway to win by a length and a quarter and has now nearly $120,000 for her big team of owners.

Michael Costa is best known for giving up 2017 Golden Slipper winner She Will Reign when he moved to Queensland two years ago.

“I don’t regret the move at all and things have been going well. I just need a headline horse and Malahide could be it,” Costa said.

“She beat the older mares at the Gold Coast at her first start and then she has won this $175,000 race today. She can go for a holiday now and then come back as a three year old.”

An $85,000 Magic Millions National Yearling Sale purchase for her trainer from the Tyreel Stud draft, Malahide is the first winner for Charge Forward mare Lady Millions, an unraced half-sister to Group III winner Karacatis and stakes-winner Shamillion.

Malahide is the best of six winners (one in the Philippines) for Shamus Award, who stands at the affordable fee of $11,000 this spring.