Kitchwin Hills sire Dane Shadow claimed his third Group 1 when Hurtle Myrtle scored a resounding victory in the VRC Myer Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on Saturday.

The Warwick Farm based mare joins Shellscrape (AJC The Galaxy) and Shadows In The Sun (SAJC Derby) on the G1 honour-roll for Dane Shadow.

Hurtle Myrtle (5m Dane Shadow – Ravenswood by Woodman) had won at G2 level earlier this year in the Sapphire Stakes at Randwick and Dane Ripper Stakes at Eagle Farm.

The Matthew Smith trained mare benefited from a superb ride by Damien Oliver who brought her with a perfectly-timed run in the straight to defeat Sacred Choice (Choisir) and Darley mare Dysphonia (Lonhro).
“We were confident but I can’t believe it’s come true,” Smith said.  “This is what trainers aim for – to win a race on Victoria Derby Day.”

Hurtle Myrtle was sidelined for a year with a leg injury and lung infection in 2010.  “It was such a relief to get her back,” Smith recalled.  “She has always promised so much.”

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 last year.

Kitchwin Hills did not raise Dane Shadow’s service fee this year despite a very successful start to his stud career.  “We kept it at $16,500 (inc gst),” Kitchwin Hills manager Mick Malone said.  “There’s no better value stallion in the country.”