Second in the Listed Maribyrnong Trial Stakes and third in the Group III Maribyrnong Plate, Shining Smile made no mistake when dropping back to midweek company in the Sportsbet Jockey Watch Hcp (1000m) at Caulfield Heath.
Ridden by Daniel Stackhouse for Ben, Will, and JD Hayes, the 2-year-old son of Spirit Of Boom was smartly away, landing in the one-out one-back spot.
Eased out three deep before the home turn, Shining Smile found a willing opponent in the leader Meisho (Tagaloa), who only yielded in the final 50m.
Sporting the silks of Victor Lee, Shining Smile defeated Meisho by half a length, with the Tagaloa debutant Itazura two and a quarter lengths back in third.
Daniel Stackhouse said the son of Spirit Of Boom had improved his manners.
“He seemed a lot more settled today and knew what his job was,” Stackhouse said
“Last start, he wanted to over-race in the mid-stages. With the winkers off, he settled well. I made sure he relaxed from the get-go, balanced around the turn, and was strong late.”
Shining Smile was a $160,000 purchase for Boomer Bloodstock (FBAA) from the Robyn Wise draft at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast National Weanling Sale.
Bred by Scott Seamer, Shining Smile is the fourth winner from seven to race for the unraced Canny Lad mare Nataya Rose.
On the day it was reported that Elvstroem had passed away, Nataya Rose descends from the family of the 5-time Group 1 winner.
Nataya Rose is a half-sister to stakes-placed Gold Anthem, the dam of Gold Anthem, and a half to Gold Chant, the dam of Amicus.
Nataya Rose’s granddam National Song is a half-sister to AJC Australian Oaks heroine Circles Of Gold, the dam of Elvstroem and Haradasun.
Shining Smile is the third two-year-old winner of the season for Eureka Stud’s Spirit Of Boom.
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