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Waller's 'Sharp' Lady Launches Everest Bid In Concorde

By Ray Hickson

There’s no hiding from the Chris Waller stable the fact star mare Lady Shenandoah is in somewhat unchartered waters as they test her TAB Everest credentials out in Saturday’s Group 3 $1m Kia Ora Concorde Stakes (1000m) at Randwick.

Chris Waller's assistant trainer Charlie Duckworth (Pic: Bradley Photos).

Waller’s assistant trainer Charlie Duckworth acknowledged that the four-year-old hasn’t tackled 1000m since her debut but said he doesn’t doubt she can be sharp enough.

Lady Shenandoah won all five starts in her three-year-old season, three at Group 1 level, between 1200m and 1600m and it earned her three-year-old of the year honours.

“She keeps herself pretty sharp,’’ Duckworth said.

“Last preparation was more a case of stretching her than us having to keep her sharp this prep.

“She’s always had an explosive turn of foot, she was just good enough to be dominant over further as a three-year-old.”

It’s something Waller tried without success with Zougotcha two years ago, giving her the chance to announce herself as a TAB Everest hope in her four-year-old spring.

Three trials and an exhibition gallop have the mare ready to go and while Duckworth said he feels Lady Shenandoah is a different case to Zougotcha if the trip is a bit sharp he’d be expecting her to breathing down their necks late.

“The 1000m might be short and sharp, but she’s an absolute aeroplane,’’ he said.

“She was awesome over 1200m first-up last preparation, getting past Lady Of Camelot who was already race fit so it adds further strength to that first-up win.

“Her trials have been awesome, her trackwork is very good. She’s fit, she’s forward.

“It’s whether that specialist distance of the 1000m is going to be too short first-up. We’re happy with how she has returned and she’s just going to need a bit of racing luck.”

With only four slots taken so far for the $20 million TAB Everest, Lady Shenandoah is on the $11 line in TAB pre-noms betting and one of a few horses in the Concorde that slot holders will be keeping a close eye on.

She opened $2.70 with TAB on Wednesday in the Concorde where she'll jump from the inside alley.

Former Perth mare Generosity adds a wild card element to the Concorde and Duckworth said she couldn’t be going better for what will be a sturdy test.

Previously trained by Simon Miller, the five-year-old ran third in the Quokka as a $51 chance in April and was last seen running fifth in the Group 1 Goodwood in Adelaide.

She’s stepped out on two occasions at the trials for the Waller yard and it’s her second in a 900m heat on August 28 that excited the stable.

“She’s probably the best black booker out of Thursday’s Rosehill trials,’’ Duckworth said.

“She trialled up just super, she seems very tractable.


Lady Shenandoah runs third in a Rosehill trial on August 28

“She was beaten about half a length in the Quokka. You don’t really know fully how the form will marry up but if you watch the trial she will give a bold showing.”

Meanwhile, Joliestar is set to kick off her second Everest campaign in either the Sheraco Stakes (1200m) on Saturday week or The Shorts (1100m) a week later following her latest trial back on Tuesday.

All the fields, form and replays for Saturday’s Randwick meeting

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