Shamardal has been jostling for position at the top of the first season sires’ table in Australia for much of this season, and on 22 July the young Darley sire once again edged towards the lead when Hukba became his eleventh individual winner.
Third on her debut at Flemington earlier this month, the David Hayes-trained filly was settled off the pace under Craig Williams and moving clear of her rivals during the closing stages, ran on well to take the 1400m contest by three quarters of a length.
Bred by Westbury Stud, Hukba is out of the Danehill mare Doduo, who has now produced three winners from three foals to race. A $300,000 purchase at last year’s Inglis Easter Yearling Sale, she now runs in the colours of Sheikh Hamdan’s Shadwell Stud.
Shamardal, who will stand at Kelvinside at a fee of $27,500 including GST this year, is also enjoying success with his first crop of runners in the northern hemisphere with five winners to his name to date. He currently has a higher percentage of runners rated 80+ by Timeform than any other first-season sire in Great Britain and Ireland.
Also on Wednesday, Lonhro's outstanding season continued when the Peter Snowden-trained Heraklion won on his debut at Randwick. Lonhro has now sired 59 individual winners this season and will stand alongside Shamardal at a fee of $33,000 including GST.
