News

First Win for Blue-Blood Colt De Shamekh

14th Jan 2012

Breednet - Tara Madgwick - Saturday, 14 January 2012

When you're by champion sire Encosta de Lago from a triple Group I winner in Shamekha, there is a high degree of expectation that you will be able to run.

Two year-old colt De Shamekh lived up to punters expectations at Rosehill on Saturday, improving from a debut second last month to lead throughout and win in the open juvenile event over 1100 metres at his second start.

In contrast to his last run when he was slowly away, this time the Gai Waterhouse trained colt jumped well and was always in control, skipping clear to win by more than three lengths.

”He was a dominant favourite so you want to see him do that,” said winning rider Hugh Bowman.

”I just controlled him until we straightened. When I gave him that little backhander he lowered and quickened again.

”He's got the makings of a nice horse. It was a no frills win”

Stable foreman Dave Meijer said De Shamekh's win would provide extra enjoyment for Waterhouse, who is on the Gold Coast for the Magic Millions yearling sale and race meeting.

”I know Gai will get a real kick out of that as he's out of Shamekha,” Meijer said.

A homebred for Emirates Park also trained by Waterhouse, Shamekha won eight races and $1.8 million including Group I wins in the AJC TJ Smith Stakes, All Aged Stakes and STC Coolmore Classic.

A son of Coolmore's champion sire Encosta de Lago (pictured), De Shamekh is her second winner and was sent to the 2011 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale by Emirates Park where he was bought back for $675,000 and runs for the Emirates Park No. 2 Syndicate.

Shamekha has a yearling filly by Fastnet Rock and produced a filly foal last year by Medaglia D'Ooro (USA).