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By Ray Hickson

Multiple Group 1 winner Lady Shenandoah could be a surprise TAB Everest contender with trainer Chris Waller saying he’ll give the mare the chance to show her sprinting prowess this spring.

Trainer Chris Waller (Pic: Bradley Photos).

The four-year-old was one of five stars from the Waller stable to gallop publicly at Rosehill on Saturday, along with Via Sistina, Fangirl, Aeliana and Autumn Glow, but unlike the other four she’s set to bypass Winx Stakes day this weekend.

Waller said Lady Shenandoah, who won the Flight Stakes, Surround Stakes and Coolmore Classic at Group 1 level last season, was at her most explosive when she won over 1200m first-up back in February and that stood out to him.

“We’ve gone through her races, arguably her best win in the autumn was the Light Fingers (1200m), she beat Lady Of Camelot easily,’’ Waller said.

“The next couple of races were tighter finishes. She has won Group 1s over a mile, 1500m and 1400m so she is pretty versatile.

“I think we will start her off shorter. We might even look at like a 1000m race in a few weeks’ time, the Concorde Stakes.”

The Concorde, run on September 6, is the first of the major lead ups to the $20 million TAB Everest and would be her first attempt at 1000m since her debut as a two-year-old.

Sydney’s champion trainer already has Joliestar aimed at another start in the Everest, after running sixth last year, and Lady Shenandoah has joined her on the $11 line of pre-noms betting with TAB.

“(The Concorde) is a million dollar race and that might just give us a chance to put her on that sprinting path where we’re top heavy with our mile/2000m horses and Joliestar in the sprinting ranks,’’ he said.

“But I think Lady Shenandoah could join her.

“I’ve fallen into the trap before of just saying yes (they’re an Everest horse). But I just think let’s get through their first runs.”

Waller said by running in that race first-up it still leaves a number of options open for the mare through the spring.

She’s second favourite, behind Autumn Glow, at $4.50 in the $10m Golden Eagle (1500m).

“I thought about the Moir first up but if that was the case she would be running over a 1000m which she’s never run and she would be running in Melbourne for the first time as well,’’ he said.

“I think it is safer to run the same day as the Moir in Sydney in that Concorde. Then she can go to wherever we want.

“We can go to a Manikato, back for an Everest and we can still plot a path towards the Golden Eagle or step her up at any stage because we know she wins over a mile.”

The @cwallerracing stars step out for gallops at Rosehill Gardens with most returning next week on Winx Stakes Day. 👀

Via Sistina 1000m: 1:05.49/37.26
Aeliana: 1:05.92/36.47
Fangirl: 1:06.10/37.27
Autumn Glow 800m: 51.16/36.71
Lady Shenandoah: 53.00/38.12 pic.twitter.com/s1lrMNqWQ6

— Racing NSW (@racing_nsw) August 16, 2025

As far as the Group 1 $1 million Winx Stakes (1400m) is concerned, Waller will have at least five runners with Via Sistina to be joined by Fangirl, Australian Derby winner Aeliana, Lindermann and import Full Count Felicia.

He said the unbeaten Autumn Glow will resume in either the Group 3 Show County (1200m) or Group 3 Toy Show (1100m) on Saturday and while he said the Epsom Handicap at a mile is shaping as an ideal race for her he hasn’t ruled out an Everest start at this stage either.

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