Cameo all class in Keith Nolan Classic

Having her third run of her current campaign, three-year-old Shamardal filly Cameo became the 48th Stakes winner for her sire, recording a strong win in the G3 Keith Nolan Classic over a mile at Kembla Grange on 24 March in Australia.

Won last year by fellow Darley-sired runner Appearance (Commands), who has since gone on to win two G1 races including the Coolmore Classic the day prior at Rosehill, Cameo settled on the rails in the lead for jockey Craig Williams.

As the field fanned coming into the home stretch, the filly who races in the colours of Sheikh Mohammed hugged the rails to produce a strong effort to claim her third career win, and first at Stakes level. The victory was indicative of a filly who will be better suited as the distances increase.

Nominated to run in the G1 Australian Oaks on 20 April at Randwick, Cameo is out of the A.P. Indy mare Portrait Of A Lady, a half-sister to the G3-winning, dual G1 placed Layman. From the family of fellow Darley stallions Cape Cross and Iffraaj, Cameo was bred by Darley in Australia. Portrait Of A Lady has a two-year-old filly by Commands named Demure, a weanling filly by the same sire and was covered by Medaglia d’Oro in the latest breeding season in Australia.

As the sire of 48 international Stakes winners including G1 winners Lope De Vega, Zazou, Faint Perfume, Crackerjack King, Captain Sonador, Amaron, Sagawara and Darley stallion Casamento, Shamardal is standing the current season at Kildangan Stud in Ireland for 50,000 euro, while Casamento will stand alongside his sire at 5,000 euro.