Derby Contender for Shamus Award
Shamus Award three year-old Mr Quickie showed he was right on target for a tilt at the Group I SAJC South Australian Derby (2500m) next month when scoring a powerful win in the $250,000 MRC VOBIS Gold Heath at Caulfield on Saturday.
Transferred to Phillip Stokes after starting his career with Darren Weir, Mr Quickie has been in hot form for his new trainer this preparation winning two of his previous three starts before stepping out at Caulfield today.
Sent out a hot favourite for this 2000 metre staying test, he travelled smoothly for Ben Allen and strode clear to win by a length and a half taking his overall record to eight wins and two seconds from 11 starts with prizemoney topping $500,000.
“He relaxed beautifully today and that’s what we wanted to see and he gives every indication he’ll run the Derby distance,” Stokes said.
“It’s two weeks to the Group One now and the whole campaign has gone to plan.”
Mr Quickie was a $115,000 Magic Millions purchase for Dalziel Racing from the Rosemont Stud draft ad was also bred by Rosemont.
He is bred to get a trip being the first foal of Special Favour, a General Nediym winner at 2200 metres from Group II winner My Tusker, whose grand-dam is champion Kiwi mare Horlicks, who won the Japan Cup in world record time.
Horlicks many notable descendants include Melbourne Cup winner Brew and Group I ATC Australian Derby winner Fiumicino, so if Mr Quickie tastes classic success it will come as no surprise to anyone!
Cox Plate winner Shamus Award is priced modestly this spring at Widden Stud at $11,000 and may well be value given he has another SA Derby contender in stakes-winner Classic Weiwei.
