Caulfield Cup Day has been a memorable one for Joe O’Neill of Prime Thoroughbreds with his two star mares Cavalry Girl and Shadhavar both claiming valuable Group II victories to add to their burgeoning CV’s.
Click to read about Cavalry Girl.
The $300,000 Group II MRC Tristarc Stakes (1400m) was another step up the ladder for progressive five year-old mare Shadhavar, who scored a dazzling all the way win.
Trained by Tom Dabernig, Shadhavar was well rated in front by Craig Williams against the strongest opposition she has faced and proved more than up to the task.
She opened up turning for home and was not for catching going on to win by nearly three lengths.
Caulfield Race 10 | Shadavar Shadavar found the lead early and was never getting caught in the straight ???? A pair of Group 2s for @dabernigracing and Prime Thoroughbreds today! ?? Ch. 78/68, Foxtel 529, Kayo or via our app REPLAYS: https://t.co/HEhdpozFmy https://t.co/ismiKU8JLD
— Racing.com (@Racing) October 17, 2026
“We're absolutely delighted. Big thanks to Joe O'Neill from Prime Thoroughbreds and Shadhavar, she's a high quality mare and today getting to the 1400 back on a drier track, we thought that she'd appreciate that softer tempo and get the rhythm right,” said Tom Dabernig.
“She's a real rhythm horse, and she got the lead and really lengthened in the straight, so it was great."
"There's two 1400m options at Flemington over Cup week, so we'll just have a look at them both. One mares and one G2 against the boys, so I think she'll be in good form going to Flemington. She's a very good Caulfield horse, yet to go to Flemington but she couldn't be more impressive."
Shadhavar has the overall record of seven wins and five placings from 18 starts with prizemoney topping $620,000.
Shadhavar was purchased by Prime Thoroughbreds for $85,000 from the draft of The Chase at Magic Millions Adelaide and is going to be a very valuable asset for her owners in the future when her racing days are done.
Bred by China Horse Club, Shadhavar is the best of two winners from well related Sebring mare Cross Legend, a winning half-sister to Group II winner Thronum and SW Cythera from the family of champion sires Street Cry and Shamardal.
Cross Legend was on-sold in 2023 at the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale for $80,000 to Noorilim Park Thoroughbreds. She produced a filly by Hanseatic last spring and is due to foal to Lovatsville based I Am Invincible young gun Move to Strike this spring.
Shadhavar is another flying mare for Pride of Dubai, who is priced to please at Coolmore this spring at a fee of just $22,000.
