Melbourne Stakes Success for Sheidel

Talented Australian mare Sheidel (4m Holy Roman Emperor x Laventour, by Metal Storm) was in top form during the summer in Perth and posted her first Melbourne Black Type win on Saturday at Caulfield in the Listed MRC Bel Esprit Stakes.

Formerly prepared by David Harrison and now with David Hayes and Tom Dabernig, Sheidel carried the Dorrington Farm colours to victory.

She scored a half head win in the 1100 metre sprint, although had to survive a protest from runner-up Girl Guide.

Tom Dabernig said the mare, who has now won 12 of 18 starters earning over $734,000 in prizemoney, will be given a chance at Group I level.

"Her first two starts for us things didn't go her way, she jumped a bit awkwardly," Dabernig said.
"We made some gear changes, took away the nose band and tongue tie as we thought she was resenting it and that was why she was missing the jump.

"Today she almost jumped too well and put herself there. It was a very good effort so we will now head to the Robert Sangster Stakes at Morphettville.

"In the form she is in now she'll be hard to beat too."

Sheidel is a half-sister to stakes-winner Latoria and is the best of three winners from Laventour, a half-sister by Metal Storm (Fr) to Group III winner Track Jester. Laventour died earlier this year.

Her sire Holy Roman Emperor was back in Australia last spring for Coolmore and covered 55 mares at a fee of $22,000, but is not returning in 2016.