Lindsay Park’s speedy mare Sheidel ticks all the boxes for a first up win in the Group 3 $150,000 The Heath 1100 (1100m) at Caulfield on Saturday.
Sheidel, above, ticks all the boxes for a first up win in The Heath 1100 at Caulfield. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.
Sheidel is a Group 1 winner of the 2017 $500,000 Oakleigh Plate over the same course and distance as the The Heath 1000 and is a first up winner three times from six previous attempts along with two placings.
The David and Ben Hayes and Tom Dabernig trained Sheidel put the sword to the Lindsay Park trained Group 1 Newmarket Handicap winner Redkirk Warrior with a seven length win in a 1000m Tatura barrier trial on August 22 and Melbourne foreman Gary Hennessy said the Holy Roman Emperor mare will be in that winning mood again on Saturday.
“Everything is going to point to her winning the race and the trial the other day, she really flew in the trial,” Hennessy told racing.com.
“There was a Group 1 horse ran second by about eight lengths.”
“Admittedly they went a bit slow behind her. She just controlled the trial.”
“It looks like she has come back as good as ever.”
“She is a really tough sort of thing. She can be a little bit strong in her gallops sometimes but as far as trying to win she has got that big will to win.”
Sheidel will be having her first run back after finishing eleventh, just over four lengths behind Secret Agenda, in the Group 1 $1m Robert Sangster Stakes (1200m) at Morphettville on May 6 and has been installed the short priced $2.60 favourite for The Heath 1100 at Ladbrokes.com.au.
Craig Williams takes the ride on Sheidel who will have no trouble finding the front from barrier three.
On the second line of betting and the only other runner under the $10 mark is the Darren Weir trained Voodoo Lad at $4.20 and race jockey Brad Rawiller is also looking for a bold first up performance from barrier seven.
“I’ve won on him at Caulfield before and he’s a strong galloper,” Rawiller said.
“Barrier seven is a nice barrier and I think it’s important that he gets a rhythm and you keep it smooth.
“If you get a sweet run with cover he’ll be very strong.”
