The $1million Group I MRC CF Orr Stakes (1400m) at Sandown on Saturday featured a select field of six for this WFA test and all runners were Group I winners bar one… and it was Shadhavar that scored a crowd pleasing victory!
The Tom Dabernig trained daughter of Pride of Dubai has been on a sharp upward spiral this spring, reeling off successive wins in Group races over 1400m for mares at Caulfield and Flemington earning her a crack at the big time.
Her regular rider Craig Williams had earlier committed to riding Pericles in the Orr Stakes, so an SOS call went out to Sydney jockey Kerrin McEvoy to take the reins as a replacement.
Shadhavar gave him an easy steer, stalking the pacemaker Beiwacht and slipping on past him at the 300m mark to open up a margin.
Pericles closed late for second, but was three-quarters of a length in arrears of the flying chestnut, who is clearly ‘in the zone’ this spring.
SHADHAVAR IS A GROUP 1 STAR ? Tom Dabernig's mare rises to the occasion in the C.F. Orr Stakes! Kerrin McEvoy wins his 87th Group 1 ?? @KPMcEvoy @dabernigracing https://t.co/jn8qcoMt26
— 7HorseRacing ?? (@7horseracing) November 14, 2026
"I think that when we got her to 1400m is when she really went to another level, and her three runs at this distance, she's now undefeated and when this G1 was on our doorstep, I said we're mad not to have a try because when these mares get in form like this, the purple patch that we talk of, you really have to take advantage of it,” said Tom Dabernig.
"I must admit, I thought she looked the winner a long way out. I didn't want to go the early crow, but she really grabbed the race by the scruff of the neck and it was a good, strong win."
The choice of Kerrin McEvoy to ride the mare proved a great decision.
"Joe (O'Neill, Prime Thoroughbreds) has got to be thanked for that. He was on the front foot, and we've got to thank Craig (Williams). He's been a big part of Shadhavar through the way, and he'd already made a commitment to Pericles,” Dabernig added.
"Kerrin and I go back a long way. He was an apprentice at Lindsay Park when I actually used to ride track work back then. So even before he started race riding, and I know his father Phil and Tony, of course, they're sort of like part of the family as well."
“That was really exciting. Really pleased to get the ride on her, and well done to Joe, he and Tom have been having a great run and it was nice to get the call up to come down,” said Kerrin McEvoy.
“She got it right. She jumped and had a nice spot and she really relished those conditions.
"Tom gave me good confidence. He said, "Look, if you get the first half right, just let her use her action." It was her first run at Sandown, but she was up and outside Beiwacht pretty early, but as we approached the 400, he didn't really sort of take me anywhere.
"So I thought, 'Well, I'm off and going for home here now. So I let her stride, and she loved that ground. She loved the uphill finish, and she did the rest.”
Shadhavar has the overall record of nine wins and five placings from 20 starts with prizemoney topping $1.3million.
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 three 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 has a yearling filly by Hanseatic and has foaled this spring producing a colt by young Lovatsville based I Am Invincible son Move to Strike.
Shadhavar is the sixth Group I winner for Pride of Dubai, who is priced to please at Coolmore this spring at a fee of just $22,000.
