Australia: Shenandoah Lady looks to extend win streak in Coolmore Classic

Shenandoah Lady, who will start favored in Friday’s Group 1 Coolmore Classic at Rosehill Gardens in Sydney, Australia, has compiled a four-race winning streak in the last six months consisting of two Group 1 races, a Group 2, and a Group 3.

Those are the only wins of her six starts and were accomplished against fellow Southern Hemisphere 3-year-old fillies. The $627,300 Coolmore Classic will be Shenandoah Lady’s first start against older fillies and mares.

Judging from the stretch runs of her last two wins, when Lady Shenandoah closed from slightly off the pace to win sprints, she is expected to handle the Coolmore Classic distance of 7 1/2 furlongs as well as a different set of rivals.

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Trained by Chris Waller, Shenandoah Lady won the Group 1 Flight Stakes at a mile at Royal Randwick Racecourse last October by closing from fourth of six.

The Coolmore Classic drew a field of 14. One potential drawback for Shenandoah Lady is a start from post 13, which will require jockey James McDonald to save some ground early in the one-turn race.

Lady Shenandoah, who was 7-5 in early betting on Thursday, will have a familiar rival in 6-1 Lady of Camelot, who is capable of leading. In her last two starts, Lady of Camelot has finished second to Lady Shenandoah, losing the Group 2 Lightfinger Stakes at six furlongs by slightly more than a length, and the Group 1 Surround Stakes at seven furlongs at seven furlongs by a neck. Both of those races were run at Randwick.

The Coolmore Classic will be Lady of Camelot’s first start at 7 1/2 furlongs.

The distance should suit Amelia’s Jewel, who has won 10 of 22 starts with all the victories in stakes. Amelia’s Jewel ran against some of Australia’s toughest males last year when fifth by two lengths in the Group 1 Champions Mile at Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne.

In her lone start this year, Amelia’s Jewel won the Group 2 Guy Walter Stakes for fillies and mares at seven furlongs at Randwick on March 1 by leading throughout at 4-5.

Rosehill Gardens has a 10-race program beginning at 9:30 p.m. Eastern or 6:30 p.m. Pacific. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.

Pride of Jenni returns at Caulfield

Pride of Jenni, the 2023-2024 Australian Horse of the Year, starts for the first time in Friday’s Group 2 Peter Young Stakes at Caulfield Racecourse since she was announced as retired following a last-place finish in the Champions Mile in November.

Pride of Jenni bled in the Champions Mile, leading owner Tony Ottobre to announce her retirement. A 7-year-old, Pride of Jenni resumed training earlier this year.

In the $313,600 Peter Young Stakes at 1 1/8 miles, Pride of Jenni is one of three fillies and mares in a field of six. The race is led by the 4-year-old filly Zardozi. As of Thursday, Zardozi was the 11-10 favorite for the Peter Young Stakes, while Pride of Jenni was 8-5. Pride of Jenni has won 8 of 35 starts in her career.

Zardozi, fourth in the Group 1 Melbourne Cup at two miles at Flemington last November, was third by slightly more than 2 1/4 lengths in the Group 2 Blamey Stakes at a mile at Flemington on March 1.

A winner of 6 of 22 starts, Zardozi is winless in 10 starts since the Group 2 Phar Lap Stakes last March.

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