Shamardal is back in the mix for the Australian first-season sires’ premiership after his filly Hukba won at Sandown on Wednesday.

Not A Single Doubt is on top of the ladder with 12 individual winners while Fastnet Rock and Shamardal (11 winners apiece) are still in contention with just one week of the season remaining.

Darley must be well pleased with the way Shamardal has kept pace with some of the more precocious freshmen sires this season.  The Giant’s Causeway colt didn’t peak until well into his three year-old season winning the French 2000 Guineas – Derby double and that augers well for his first crop as they head towards the classics.

Hukba (2f Shamardal – Doduo by Danehill) showed plenty of fight to fend off Lunar Gold (Fomalhaut) in the Boardwalk Angel Hcp (1400m) on the Hillside circuit.  Jockey Craig Williams believes she can go on and be competitive in the three year-old features for fillies this spring.

Hukba was a $300,000 purchase for Sheikh Hamdan from the Westbury Stud draft at the 2008 Inglis Easter Yearling sale.  She is from a sister to the Flemington stakes-winner Hillfa.  Another close relation is Rafha (Kris), a French Oaks winner who foaled Champion European first-season sire and former Chatwsood shuttler Invincible Spirit.

sportingbet.com.au eased Shamardal out to $7 for the winners’ premiership last week but he will firm after Hukba got him to within one win of the lead yesterday.