Former Widden Stud shuttler Southern Image was a rank failure in Australia apart from quality mare Southern Speed.

A G1 winner of the 2011 Caulfield Cup, Southern Speed scored another awesome victory when racing first-up in the LR John Dillon Stakes at Caulfield on Australia Day.  In the end, it was a soft return for the mare who did it easily to defeat Shout Out Loud and Danzylum.

“She carried 60kg and the 1400m was probably against her,” trainer Leon Macdonald said.  “But she was the class horse of the race.”

Macdonald indicated the G1 Australian Cup (2000m) at Flemington and The BMW (2400m) at Rosehill are the mare’s autumn goals.  Her next lead-up to the weight-for-age features will be in the Orr Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on February 11.

“The Orr will be easy – we’ve only got to beat Black Caviar,” Macdonald said with tongue firmly in cheek.  “If we run a nice second I would be happy.”

Southern Speed (4m Southern Image – Golden Eagle by Zabeel) is raced by Harry Perks, Trevor Robertson and Rod Fairclough who have been long-time stable clients of Macdonald.
 
She won her first two starts as a summer three year-old in Adelaide and she completed a hat-trick in the G3 Matron Stakes at Flemington.  She is closely related to G1 Golden Slipper winner Ha Ha.

Southern Image (Halo’s Image) served four years at Widden Stud until 2009.  The Caulfield Cup winner is his sole stakes winner from 51 starters in Australia.