It was the first running of the Surround Stakes a s Group One event, having been recently upgraded to give the sprinting fillies a plum in the Sydney autumn.
Shoals wins the Gr1 Surround Stakes. Photo: Steve Hart.
Shoals entered the race with a record of five wins and two placings from her eight career start and more prizemoney than any of her rivals yet curiously started at double figure odds after her one and only disappointing run at her previous start.
That was when beating only one horse to the line when resuming off a break but stable spokesman Sam Freedman offered an explanation;
"We got her a bit wrong first up.
"She had a month off and blew right out. She did very well in the paddock and was probably a little fat first up.
She's a quality filly and very well bred."
Very well bred she is indeed, by Fastnet Rock out of The Broken Shore, a daughter by Hussonet of the famous Shantha's Choice who has also left Redoute's Choice, Manhattan Rain, Platinum Scissors, Sliding Cube and Echoes Of Heaven.
It was the second Group One win for the three year-old, having beaten the older mares in the Myer Classic at Flemington during the spring.
She was not offered for sale and races in the ownership of Jonathan Munz's Pinecliff Racing and Arrowfield Stud after her dam was sold for $1.9 million when carrying Shoals as part of the Teeley Assets dispersal at the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale.
A full brother to Shoals is sure to be one of the highlight lots when offered at the upcoming Inglis Easter Yearling Sale on April 9 as Lot 400.
