Well Regarded Fillies Complete Double For Australia

The well-regarded Tasmania (3f Australia - Tusked Wings, by Adlerflug) completed the first leg of a double for Australia on Friday when recording back-to-back wins at Chantilly.

Francis-Henri Graffard’s representative was sent off second favourite for the Class 2 conditions race over ten furlongs, having won her maiden over the same trip at Saint-Cloud last month. Settled in second by Mickael Barzalona, she was asked to quicken from two furlongs out and was ridden to lead approaching the final furlong. Staying on strongly, she prevailed by a short neck on the line as Yorokobi (Camelot) ran on in second.

Owned and bred by Gestut Schlednerhan, Tasmania holds an entry in the Group 1 Prix de Diane. She is the second foal out of Tusked Wings, whose first produce is Stakes performer Task (Mastercraftsman).

Another daughter of Australia with Group 1 entries is Shamida (3f Australia - Shamooda, by Azamour), who justified favouritism in the fillies’ maiden at Leopardstown later that day.

The Aga Khan homebred finished a close third at the track on her sole juvenile start and repeated the feat on her three-year-old return. Stepping up to a mile and a half on Friday, she was positioned in midfield by Chris Hayes and improved to chase the leaders along the back straight. Pushed along on the turn for home, she was ridden approaching the final furlong and ran on well to lead inside the final 110 yards. The winning margin was half a length, with another length and three quarters back to Sugaree (Camelot), who caught the eye when finishing well for third.

Speaking after the race, winning trainer Dermot Weld said, “Shamida is progressive and hopefully we can go on and get some black type with her next time. She's a filly that's coming forward, every time she's run she's run better. I think she'll continue to progress.”