After securing a fourth consecutive victory, promising three-year-old Shanwah is now poised for a potential trip to Sydney following his triumph in the Alister Clark Stakes at Moonee Valley.
With four wins from eight starts and an impressive streak that began in January, the son of UK Group 1 Two Thousand Guineas (1600m) winner Too Darn Hot has set his sights on the Group 1 ATC Australian Derby (2400m).
“If the horse is sound, and we’re happy, he can travel up to Sydney and have a crack at the Derby,” Ciaron Maher’s assistant trainer Jack Turnbull said after the Group 2 race over 2040 metres.
“He stepped a little bit slow and I was a tad worried, but to his credit he gave him a little squeeze and he poked up inside and it then worked out really well.
“Four-in-a-row, it’s not easy to do and he’s on an upwards trajectory, which is fantastic.”
Shanwah’s winning streak began with a maiden victory at Mornington, followed by a benchmark 64 success at Caulfield Heath in February, and a Group 2 Autumn Classic (1400m) win at Caulfield on February 22.
Blake Shinn partnered Shanwah in all of those races, but with commitments in Sydney, in-form jockey Ethan Brown stepped in for the ride.
“I thought he was toying with them a bit there,” Brown said.
“He’s a horse of very high class that has continued to improve and the 2000 metres was no worries to him at all.”
Following his latest victory, Shanwah moved into third place in the ATC Derby betting market at $6, with New Zealand Derby champion Willydoit currently the $3.50 favourite.
“He can measure up, certainly,” Brown said.
“The higher the pressure for this horse, the more it will switch him on.”
Shanwah ($2.20 betting favourite) secured victory by two lengths over Chris Waller-trained Imperialist ($13), with Statuario ($15) finishing a half-head behind in third.