Two beautifully bred 3YO fillies by Snitzel and I Am I Invincible, plus a debut runner entered for the Cox Plate, this maiden race at Sale was always going to throw up a winner of interest.
The Mark Walker trained Shamus Award gelding Cinturato started favourite and has obviously been showing plenty as he’s the one with the Cox Plate nomination.
As it happened the 1100m of this assignment proved a little sharp, but he worked home well for third behind blueblood Snitzel filly Shinjina under Ethan Brown and I Am Invincible filly Lady Verity, who is from Group I winner Volpe Veloce.
Trained by Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman, Shinjina was a $1.1million Inglis Easter purchase for Kia Ora / TFI and scored by half a length at her second start following a debut third at Sandown last month.
“She’s had the best start to life and has been incredibly well handled from day one and you can see she’s very professional and just wants to be a little racehorse,” said Katherine Coleman.
“She’s a very forward filly and the team at home has done a good job with her as well.
“We’ll see how she comes through today and obviously this has been a pretty hot maiden, but we will let her guide us as to where we go next.”
Shinjina is the ninth winner from nine foals to race from Group II winning Stravinsky (USA) mare Hips Don’t Lie, whose offspring include Group III winner Ennis Hill (dam of Group II winner Learning to Fly) and stakes-winners Lake Geneva and Acrobat.
Just turned 20, Hips Don’t Lie had a Home Affairs filly sell for $400,000 at Inglis Easter this year and is due to foal to Wootton Bassett (GB).
