Widden Graduate Set for Good Spring

A stakes-winner at Flemington last spring, talented Dubawi (IRE) mare Shamal Wind returned to action at Caulfield on Saturday scoring a powerful win in the open sprint over 1100 metres.

Trained by Robert Smerdon, Shamal Wind cruised clear to score by a length and a half taking her overall record to four wins from nine starts with earnings topping $230,000.

“I thought with the good weight and barrier today that she had to step up and she did, and there is definitely improvement in her,” said Robert Smerdon.

Smerdon will now look to step Shamal Wind back up to stakes company with the Group III MRC $135,000 Sportingbet Series Final at Caulfield in three weeks named as a likely target.

Shamal Wind was a $55,000 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale purchase for Aquanita Racing from the draft of Widden Stud and runs for the Lucas family.

Bred by Widden Stud in partnership, she is the first foal from Firemaid (USA), a winning half-sister by Machiavellian to stakes-winner Bezrin and grand-daughter of Group I winner My Darling One.

Firemaid has a yearling colt by Group I producing sire Stratum, but no foal this spring after missing last year.