The Surround Stakes quinella of Lady Shenandoah and Lady Of Camelot will face off again in the Coolmore Classic, but both will have to contend with wide barriers.
Lady Shenandoah was a dual acceptor for the Phar Lap Stakes (1500m), but her trainer Chris Waller has withdrawn her from that race. Waller has a strong record in the event, having won it with top fillies like Winx (2015), Verry Elleegant (2019), and Zougotcha (2022).
Instead, Waller has chosen to test Lady Shenandoah against older mares in the Coolmore Classic. She has drawn barrier 13 of 15, with Lady Of Camelot one gate wider in 14.
Before final fields and barriers were announced on Wednesday, Waller had already hinted that the Coolmore Classic (1500m) was the preferred target due to its Group 1 status.
“She’s got nothing left to prove in terms of the Group Two Phar Lap,” Waller said in his weekly runner update on X.
“I would use the Phar Lap if she was going to go beyond (a mile), but there is no guarantee that she will.
“Will she run in the Vinery (Stud Stakes), 2000 metres? Unlikely. Will she freshen up and go to the Queen Of The Turf? Possibly. Will she run in the Doncaster (Mile)? Maybe. We will see how she is this Saturday. There is a bit to play out.”
Lady Shenandoah’s stablemate Lazzura and Michael Freedman’s filly Manaal add to the three-year-old presence in the Coolmore Classic. Both also received difficult draws, landing in barriers eight and 11, respectively.
Barrier draws have not been kind to Manaal this preparation. She jumped from gate 10 of 13 when unplaced in the Light Fingers Stakes (1200m) and then from 12 of 14 when finishing fifth behind Lady Shenandoah in the Surround Stakes (1400m).
Looking to avoid another tough run at Rosehill, Freedman entered Manaal for both the Coolmore and the Phar Lap Stakes, only to be handed barrier 11 in both.
“I figured if I had two cracks, I might be a chance of drawing a barrier in one,” Freedman said.
“I thought her run last start was super. She was four-wide with no cover all the way and just kept fighting to the line.
“I think she is back to where I had her twelve months ago.”
Rachel King will take the ride on Manaal at 51kg in the Coolmore if she runs, while Jason Collett is booked to ride her in the Phar Lap Stakes.
“It will all come down to where I think she sets up best,” Freedman said.
Amelia’s Jewel is the 58kg topweight for the Coolmore Classic and will attempt to become the first horse since Sunline (2002) to win while carrying more than 57kg.
Typhoon Tracy was the last filly to take out the race in 2009, though Kimochi came close last year, finishing third as a three-year-old.
