Silver Shadow Success for Northern Meteor Filly

The loss of Northern Meteor was highlighted again at  Randwick on Saturday when Gooree Stud homebred Speak Fondly kicked off her spring campaign with a bold all the way win in the Group II ATC Silver Shadow Stakes.

Speak Fondly led throughout for Kerrin McEvoy from gate one and pulled clear to win the 1200 metre sprint by more than a length from progressive Star Witness filly Kimberley Star.

A brilliant winner of the Group II ATC Magic Night Stakes last season at two, Speak Fondly has come back in great order, but connections feel speed events will be her forte.

“She wasn’t stopping today but she feels like a sprinting filly,” said Kerrin McEvoy.

“I would have a query on whether she handles seven furlongs as well as she handles six.”

Waterhouse concurred, revealing her doubts leading into the race.

“I thought the distance might catch her out today but she was too strong,” Waterhouse said.

“I will probably stick to fillies grade with her and she’s never been tested beyond 1200-metres so I don’t really know if she will get further.”

A half-sister to Group II winner Wild and Proud, Speak Fondly has won two of five starts earning over $250,000 in prizemoney and is the fifth winner from stakes-winning Flying Spur mare Blab, a half-sister to Group III winner Yammer from the family of Golden Slipper winner Bounding Away.

Bred and raced by the late TJ Smith, Bounding Away was the superstar filly of her time, but the family has been quiet of late so it’s nice to see Speak Fondly making an impression. Her dam Blab died in 2013 and Speak Fondly is her final foal.

She is one of 18 stakes-winners for Northern Meteor, whose best son Zoustar has his first foals being born this spring.