Shamardal’s Sperry lands the Michael Seely Memorial Stakes

Sperry (Shamardal) extended her unbeaten run to three and added a first Stakes win to her record on 15 May when taking the one-mile Michael Seely Memorial Stakes at York. 

The Godolphin filly tracked the early leaders and taking the lead a furlong from home, held off the challenge of favourite Yasmeen to win by half a length. Sperry won her maiden by no fewer than seven lengths last November, before reappearing with a victory at Ascot on 29 April. A further step up in class could now be on the cards, as she holds an entry in the G1 Coronation Stakes at next month’s Royal Meeting at Ascot.

Bred by Corduff Stud and David Egan, Sperry is out of the Marju mare Badee’a, already dam of a multiple Stakes winner in Dunelight. The mare is herself a full-sister to Group winner Mahboob and is a daughter of multiple G1 winner Miss Gris.

Shamardal has now sired 12 individual Stakes winners this year, headed by his superstar Able Friend, due to take his chance in next month’s Queen Anne at Royal Ascot having dominated racing in Hong Kong in recent years. Standing at Kildangan Stud at a fee of €70,000 October 1st SLF, he is sire of a further five 2015 Group winners.