Kitchwin Hills sire Dane Shadow is enjoying a marvellous run this season and the magic continued when Hurtle Myrtle took out the G2 Dane Ripper Stakes at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
Hurtle Myrtle (4m Dane Shadow – Ravenswood by Woodman) produced a tremendous finish to win the Dane Ripper running away from Zero Rock (Danzero) and Pontiana (Redoute’s Choice).
The Matthew Smith trained mare had been sidelined for nearly a year before resuming to win the G2 Sapphire Stakes at Randwick in April. “She had a few problems early on with lameness and a lung infection,” Smith said. “She has always promised so much and is the best horse in my stable.”
Hyrtle Myrtle will be set for the G1 Winter Stakes on June 25 and, in the meantime, Dane Shadow can claim a G1 in the Queensland Derby next week with his last-start winners Turnitup (G2 Grand Prix) and Shadows In The Sun (G1 South Australian Derby).
Hurtle Myrtle was a $55,000 buy at the 2008 Inglis Classic yearling sale. She is a younger half-sister to Sydney winner Peace Academy (Royal Academy) and their dam Ravenswood foaled another Dane Shadow filly in September.