Trained in the country at Goulburn by Danny Williams, Shelby Sixtysix has been the cult hero of the Sydney Autumn Carnival and capped a remarkable rise from contesting Highway races to winning an elite Group I sprint when powering to victory in the Group I ATC The Galaxy (1100m) at Rosehill on Saturday.
A perennial place-getter in Highway class Saturday races, five year-old Toronado (IRE) gelding Shelby Sixtysix broke through for his first win at that level when the heavy tracks arrived in Sydney on February 26.
He backed up seven days later from that win to contest the Group II ATC Challenge Stakes and very nearly pulled off the upset of the century when splitting heavyweight star sprinters Eduardo and Nature Strip to finish second.
He failed by only a long head to catch Eduardo and that form encouraged Danny Williams to back him up again in the Group III ATC Maurice McCarten Stakes with that victory making his first Black Type success.
The ease of the win and continuing wet weather prompted another quick back up into the Galaxy and in a field laden with specialist sprinters, Shelby Sixtysix found the line for Robbie Dolan to post a crowd-pleasing long head win.
Danny Williams was on cloud nine after the win.
"How well is he going? That is incredible. Is he in The Everest?” said an elated Williams.
"What an incredible story. I can't believe it, what do you say? The horse got beaten here a few runs ago and to be winning a Group I.
"It's great for Robbie (Dolan) too."
Shelby Sixtysix has started eight times this year and looked a picture in the yard so is obviously thriving on his racing.
"Keep him happy. It's a bit like the wife, just keep her happy and let her do what she wants,” Williams revealed as the secret to his success.
More Group I races may be in store for the son of Toronado with Group I sprints the TJ Smith and All Aged Stakes mentioned as possible targets albeit a late entry would need to be paid for the TJ.
Shelby Sixtysix has taken his overall record to five wins and 11 placings from 24 starts with prizemoney in excess of $760,000.
A $150,000 Inglis Classic purchase from the Riverina Downs draft for his trainer and Astute Bloodstock, Shelby Sixtysix is the first winner from Storm Kite, a Sydney metro winning half-sister by Honour’s List (IRE) to stakes-winner Prophet’s Kiss.
Storm Kite died in 2021 and her final foal is a two year old Territories (IRE) filly called Incorporation.
Shelby Sixtysix is the third Group I stakes-winner for Swettenham Stud’s High Chaparral son Toronado, who covered 172 mares last spring at the increased fee of $49,500.
