Golden Pendant The Spring Target For Shamalia

Trainer James Cummings has revealed that the Group 3 Golden Pendant (1400m) at Rosehill Gardens on September 27 could be the major 2014 Spring Racing Carnival target for talented filly Shamalia.

Shamalia scored a narrow victory over Sidestep in the Fireball Stakes during the 2014 Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival.

Shamalia scored a narrow victory over Sidestep in the Fireball Stakes during the 2014 Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival. Photo by: Steve Hart

Shamalia has not been seen at the races since she finished eighth in the Group 2 Royal Sovereign Stakes (1200m) at Royal Randwick on April 19, but Cummings told Racing Ahead that she had returned to trackwork and was progressing well ahead of the start of her spring preparation.

The Shamardal filly has shown that she is capable of competing at Group level during her racing career to date and Cummings believes that the Golden Pendant, which is now worth $300,000 in prizemoney, could be an ideal race for the rising four-year-old.

“She galloped well this morning,” Cummings said yesterday.

“She is probably going to have a little trial in the middle of August and a race like the Golden Pendant in Sydney might be a nice race for her before she heads down to Melbourne with a few options in front of her.”

Shamalia made her racing debut at Royal Randwick on Boxing Day last year and did plenty of things wrong, but was still able to score a maiden race victory from Vanilla Princess and All Salsa.

She made it two wins from as many starts when she took out the Australian Turf Club Handicap (1300m) at Randwick on January 8 and she was well-backed in the lead-up to the Group 3 Kevin Hayes Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on February, but tired in the final stages of the race to finish fifth.

Shamalia returned to winning form when she stormed home late to score her maiden black type victory in the Listed Fireball Stakes (1100m) at Royal Randwick on March 5 and was far from disgraced when fourth on a bottomless heavy track in the Listed Gosford Guineas (1200m) on April 6 before being sent to the spelling paddock after finishing eighth in the Royal Sovereign Stakes.

Cummings said that Shamalia will head to Melbourne after contesting the Golden Pendant and she could run in races like the Group 2 Tristarc Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on October 18 and Group 1 Myer Classic (1600m) at Flemington on Victoria Derby Day.

Team Cummings are chasing their second win in the Golden Pendant after taking out the 2004 edition of the race with Beasame Mucho.

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Thomas Hackett

Thomas is a passionate and opinionated racing journalist and punter who has been obsessed with horse racing since he backed Saintly to win the 1996 Melbourne Cup. An international racing enthusiast, he has his finger on the pulse of racing news not just from Australia but all around the world.