Pride of Dubai is known for his brilliant mares that get better with age and Shadhavar is rapidly filling that space after blasting her rivals to score a commanding victory in the $240,000 Group III VRC Hong Kong Jockey Club stakes (1400m) at Flemington on Cup Day.
Trained by Tom Dabernig, Shadhavar was well rated in front by Craig Williams coming off a last start win in the Group II MRC Tristarc Stakes at Caulfield.
She was running for fun and let loose after turning or home to open up and win by more than four lengths in a dazzling display.
A class above ?? SHADHAVAR stamps her authority on the Hong Kong Jockey Club Stakes with a commanding victory. @HKJC_Racing | #MelbourneCup https://t.co/kRDT7LDFgP
— Victoria Racing Club (@FlemingtonVRC) November 3, 2026
“It's her first time to Flemington. She's by Pride Of Dubai and often they get better as they get older and she's just improving with every run so we're absolutely delighted,” said tom Dabernig, who is considering a tilt at the $1million Group I MRC CF Orr Stakes (1400m) on November 14.
"I must admit we'd handwritten it (the CF Orr) in the calendar, hopeful, and we hadn't talked about it a lot before today, we were just going to see how she performed.
"She looks magnificent, she's a picture of health and a big thanks to all the Dabernig racing team. My wife's here today and my three sons are here. So that's a big thrill to have everyone here to celebrate the win. And my mother Jan and father Arthur, they couldn't be here but they'll be watching."
Craig Williams was also optimistic about a crack at the Orr Stakes.
"Maybe, we'll see how she pulls up and that could be a really good option for her, but we're patient with horses, we've got plenty of time,” he said.
“The life expectancy for her is not two weeks so it's pretty exciting going forward and that could be a real realistic chance for her the way she's going."
Shadhavar has the overall record of eight wins and five placings from 19 starts with prizemoney topping $768,000.
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 year and has foaled this spring producing a colt by Lovatsville based I Am Invincible young gun Move to Strike.
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.
