Woodside Park Stud’s Shalaa (IRE) added a 20th lifetime stakes-winner to his tally on Wednesday and he did it with Sha of Gomer, who created Australian racing history for husband-and-wife team of Jeff Dunn and Rikki Jamieson when they combined with the five year-old gelding to win the $200,000 Listed Ramornie Handicap at Grafton.
It is the first time that a husband (trainer) and wife (jockey) combination have won a stakes race in Australia and the result brought high emotion after the win.
Sha of Gomer started life in the stable of champion trainer Chris Waller and won five races as he worked through his grades in Brisbane before being sold as a tried horse to join the Beaudesert stable of Jeff Dunn in April.
The change of scene has agreed with Sha of Gomer and he repaid his new connections with wins at Ipswich and Rockhampton as well as a second in the Listed Eyeliner Stakes last month.
Given a beautiful ride by Jamieson, he chimed in with a well timed run to score a length and a half win taking his overall record to eight wins and 10 placings from 34 starts with prizemoney just shy of $500,000.
"It's absolutely huge," Dunn said.
"What a thrill to win such a special race.
"I'm overwhelmed with the support that we've had with this horse. To win this race is really special for us.
"This would have been great for me, but it will never be surpassed in my career.
"I can't believe it's happened and it's really special to share it with Rikki. As long as she remembers who's boss, we're all good."
Sha of Gomer was originally a $320,000 Magic Millions purchase for Mulcaster Bloodstock/Chris Waller Racing from Vinery Stud and was bred by Greg Perry from a family that has delivered him a great deal of success and produced Group I winners Artorius and Delectation.
Sha of Gomer is the first stakes-winner among three winners from Pocket Power (USA), a winning half-sister by Giant’s Causeway to Delectation from imported stakes-winner Grace and Power (USA), who is also the grand-dam of Artorius.
Pocket Power produced a colt by Supido last spring and was then covered by Vinery Stud young gun Hawaii Five Oh.
Sha of Gomer is the sixth Australian stakes-winner this season for Shalaa, who recently ticked over his 100th winner of the season.
Shalaa stands in Victoria at Woodside Park at a fee of $19,800,
