Happy Days for Shamardal

Bart Cummings found Group 1 filly Faint Perfume in Shamardal’s first crop and the master may have discovered another one on Saturday.

Shamash was arguably the most impressive winner at Rosehill when he blitzed a strong field in the Soft As Soap Hcp (1200m).  The gelding has won his last two after being off the scene for 18 months.

Before he was sidelined, Shamash was runner-up to stablemate So You Think at Rosehill in May 2009.

“There’s a lot of class about him,” foreman James Cummings said.  “Bart’s confident he will keep improving as the distances increase.  He’s a pleasure to train since being gelded.”

Shamash (4g Shamardal – She’s A Pretender by Danehill) is from a stakes placed sister to G1 Victoria Derby winner Nothin’ Leica Dane.  He cost $180,000 at the 2008 Gold Coast Magic Millions and is raced in the same interests as Bart’s weight-for-age star Sirmione.

Jockey Hugh Bowman was suitably impressed after Shamash flew home to win the lucky last at Rosehill.  “He really attacked the line and had them covered in a couple of strides,” Bowman said.  “He is probably the best horse here today.”

Shamardal mare Happy Hippy also closed the Sandown card on a winning note when she motored home in the Listed Summoned Stakes.  The Patinack Farm mare had been knocking on the door after coming off an unlucky second to Jersey Lily in a Listed event at Flemington on Melbourne Cup day.

Happy Hippy (4m  Shamardal – Springburn by Soviet Lad) made $32,000 as a foal at the 2007 Inglis Winter weanling sale in the days when Anthony Cummings trained for Nathan Tinkler.

She hails from a wonderful family developed by the late Ed Barty at Trevenson Stud in Victoria.  Her dam retired a maiden but second dam Lady Violet (Old Crony) foaled 11 winners including Notoire (G1 VRC Salinger Stakes) and Tempest Tost (GCTC Magic Millions 3YO Trophy).

Shamardal (Giant’s Causeway) has sired 24 stakes winners of 37 stakes races in less than two years and that prompted Darley to raise his service fees in Australian and Ireland.

The cost of a cover at Kelvinside this year increased from $27,500 to $66,000 and his Kildangan fee Stud for 2011 has gone from 20,000 pounds to 50,000 pounds.