By the time Eduardo passed the 300m mark in Saturday’s $500,000 Group II Hyland Race Colours Challenge Stakes (1000m) at Randwick, the defending champion had gassed old foe Nature Strip. Still, one of the great shocks of racing loomed large as the $61 chance Shelby Sixtysix became a menacing presence.
Ridden by Nash Rawiller for trainer Joe Pride, Eduardo held on to defeat Shelby Sixtysix (Toronado) by a long-head with a further one and a quarter length back to Nature Strip (Nicconi) with Splintex (Snitzel) last of the four runners.
An 8yo son of Host (Chi), Eduardo advances his record to 11 three six from 26 starts with earnings of $6,006,900.
“Nash is a man of few words as everybody knows, but he said, ‘I want to go quicker today,” Pride said.
“I think that was what brought Nature Strip undone, but it nearly brought him undone as well.”
“There is a delicate balance there. I’m not going to criticise Nash because he gets it right so many times, but it was probably set up for something to come home. But a gallant effort from my bloke and just great to get him to win another Group race this preparation. He’s a marvel.
“It was an epic contest again, and I’m just so happy to see him win another Group race.”
“It’s four weeks to the TJ (Smith), and then we will think about Brisbane. The Spring is what beckons after that, and I’d just love to keep this horse going for as long as I can as he’s showing no signs of tiredness.
“He has certainly come up well this time around. The TJ and The Everest are the two big ones, and I’d love to see this horse win one of those races before he retires.”
Raced in partnership by his breeder Jane Kaufmann, Eduardo is the best of three winners from as many foals out of the unraced Fantastic Light (IRE) mare Blushing who has not been returned to the Stud Book since Eduardo was foaled in 2013.
Blushing is a granddaughter of the Group III QTC Lightning Handicap winner Peggy Ann.
