Lady Shenandoah will step onto the Melbourne stage for the first time this Friday night when she contests the $2 million Group 1 Manikato Stakes at Moonee Valley.
The Chris Waller-trained mare had a quiet familiarisation gallop at the Valley on Monday morning, pleasing her trainer with how she handled the track and surrounds ahead of her debut Melbourne run.
“She had a good look around pre-work, so we didn’t do too much with her on the track and she did enough in herself to keep her stimulated,” Waller said. “She’s pretty fit, her first-up run was terrific and she’s ready to run Friday night.”
All eight of Lady Shenandoah’s starts so far have been right-handed, north of the Murray, where she has claimed five wins, including the Group 1 Flight Stakes (1600m), Surround Stakes (1400m) and Coolmore Classic (1500m).
Waller is confident her preparation has her ready to tackle left-handed racing at The Valley, explaining she has been working Melbourne-way in recent weeks. “Probably once a week and a few gallops once we knew we were heading this way,” he said. “Interestingly, she’s got a huge stride for a sprinter, but she’s very sharp.”
Lady Shenandoah resumed with a luckless second in the Group 3 Concorde Stakes (1000m), flashing late after being held up in the straight. “It was a big gamble bringing her back to 1000, she acquitted herself well and 1200 will just be that bit better for her,” Waller said.
She is among 13 entries for the Manikato, where she is set to clash with Moir Stakes winner Baraqiel, Magic Time and Skybird.
Also on Friday’s Valley program is the $500,000 Group 2 Feehan Stakes (1600m), a small but select field headlined by defending champion Pride Of Jenni and this year’s Memsie Stakes winner Treasurethe Moment.
Punters eager to back Lady Shenandoah or any of the feature runners on Friday night can find the latest odds through Australia’s leading betting sites.