Trainer Tom Charlton is confident that Shangri La Impact has been presented with the opportune race to advance her career at Randwick this Saturday, even if a return to Stakes-level racing is uncertain.
The four-year-old filly, by Staphanos, is scheduled to participate in the $160,000 B&J Guttering & Metal Roofing BM72 Handicap over 1800 metres.
This fillies and mares event represents her first competition against her own sex since her involvement in last year’s Group 1 Queensland Oaks, and Charlton is pleased with the mare’s preparation.
“It’s the perfect race for her really; fillies and mares, a nice distance for her on home track, so I think it looks a nice option,” Charlton said.
This will mark Shangri La Impact’s fifth start for Charlton, who took over from former trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott.
Waterhouse and Bott entered her into the Queensland Oaks after she achieved back-to-back wins in May last year, but she finished second-last in that 2200m race.
Shangri La Impact commenced her tenure with Charlton with a debut victory in BM64 grade at Kembla Grange on March 3. This was followed by a third-place finish at Newcastle and another win over 1800m in BM72 grade at the Randwick Kensington meeting on April 27.
She returned to Saturday racing at Rosehill on May 30 but weakened in the run home to finish sixth, 6-1/4 lengths behind the winner, having gone too hard in the early stages.
Nash Rawiller will ride Shangri La Impact from barrier two in Saturday’s event, replacing Dylan Gibbons. Charlton is hoping for a less taxing run.
“She doesn’t have to lead but she naturally has herself in a forward position,” he said.
“Last time we just went a bit too quick, we had a bit of pressure on our outside and you could see the race how it developed that it suited the backmarkers.”
“So I think there was a genuine excuse and I think also getting back on a sounder surface might be more beneficial as well.”
Shangri La Impact is currently listed as the second favourite with leading betting sites for Saturday’s handicap, behind Chris Waller’s sparingly raced British mare Nasebah.
For those interested in wagering, exploring the available racing odds on Australian betting sites for this BM72 handicap could prove advantageous.
