Brilliant Return for Widden Graduate Shamal Wind

A sizzling sprinter on her day, talented Dubawi (IRE) mare Shamal Wind showed she was right back to her sparkling best with a barnstorming win in the Listed MRC WJ Adams Stakes at Caulfield on Saturday.

Resuming from a spell, the Robert Smerdon trained mare settled at the tail of the field for Ryan Maloney and flew to the line with her ears pinned back to grab General Truce and win the 1000 metre dash by a long head.

Smerdon admitted he was concerned before the race about Shamal Wind starting from the outside barrier.

“I thought she might be stone last and if she was she would have a big job in front of her,” Smerdon said.

“If she was finding the line and finishing on the back of them, I would have been happy. Courtesy of a tactically good ride on behalf of Ryan (Maloney) she was able to come up with the major end of the prize.”

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 for whom she has won five of 14 starts earning close to $400,000 in prizemoney..

“The Oakleigh Plate (February 22) is the race we are after now and on today’s effort you’d have to think she’s a chance,” Smerdon added.

Bred by Widden Stud in partnership, Shamal Wind is the first foal from Firemaid (USA), a winning half-sister by Machiavellian to stakes-winner Bezrin and to the dam of last year’s Group II winner Al Thakhira.

A grand-daughter of Group I winner My Darling One, Firemaid has a yearling colt by Group I producing sire Stratum that will be offered by Widden Stud as Lot 7 at the 2014 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.

Fire Maid had no foal last year after missing in 2012 and was subsequently covered by Sebring.