Shamardal's three-year-old daughter Faint Perfume will enter Thursday’s G1 Crown Oaks as the clear favourite after recording a dominant victory in the G2 Wakeful Stakes on Derby Day at Flemington.
Settled towards the rear of the field, the Bart Cummings-trained filly was asked to quicken by Michael Rodd once they entered the straight and from then on, the result never looked in doubt as she cruised to a three-length win.
Bred by Wynyarra Stud, Faint Perfume is out of the Zabeel mare Zona, herself a daughter of Danendri, who won the Wakeful Stakes herself before winning the G1 AJC Oaks.
Shamardal has now sired three Stakes winners in Australia so far this season and a further four Stakes placers. He is also currently Europe’s leading first-season sire having recorded no fewer than 20 winners including five Black type performers.
Also at Flemington, Shocking (Street Cry) cemented his place in the race that stops a nation with an outstanding win in the 2500m Lexus Stakes.
Settled off the pace under Michael Rodd, the four-year-old colt looked to need a little luck entering the turn, but once the gap appeared, Shocking accelerated brilliantly along the inside rail and moved clear of his rivals to win by two and a quarter lengths.
His victory will have provided some consolation for trainer Mark Kavanagh, after Shamoline Warrior (Shamardal) was scratched from the Derby after he was found to have a high temperature.
Shocking, last seen finishing second in the G3 Coongy Cup, also took the runner’s up slot in last season’s G1 Queensland Derby. Bred by Mrs F Fraser and now owned by Laurence Eales, he is one of five winners from the British-bred Danehill mare Maria di Castiglia who visited Street Cry’s multiple G1-winning son Street Sense last year.
Meanwhile, the lightly-raced King Pulse (Canny Lad) gained his first Black type when finishing a creditable second in the G1 Coolmore Stud Stakes.
