“The best laid plans of mice and men often go awry.”
This famous phrase is never truer than when applied to racehorses. Planning for Group 1 races begins months in advance, and each of those months must pass by perfectly and without setback, so small are the margins for error at the top level. After the suitable races have been identified and the preparation executed, even the most fitting of races have up to twenty rivals, for each of whom the race has been a plan and for each group of connections a win is the dream.
Such a plan had been the case with Shamal Wind, a JHB private purchase for the Love family in May last year. This explosive daughter of Dubawi had yet to gain a breakthrough win at Group level, though had been placed four times at both Group 3 and Group 2 level and gaining a win at this level was the express aim behind the purchase for a mare clearly capable of such a victory.
What followed was an exciting, yet ultimately frustrating preparation where Shamal Wind was placed a further four times at Group level, including when beaten a mere inch in the Group 2 Caulfield Sprint, a race she had been a similarly close second in twelve months previously. Donna and Rob Love retained faith in their mare, and she rewarded them on her return this January, looking as good as ever when slamming her rivals in the Listed WJ Adams Stakes, a race she had also won twelve months earlier. Then, in consultation with trainer Robert Smerdon, Donna and Rob, it was decided to keep her fresh for a run at the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate.
The thinking behind a run in the Oakleigh Plate is that a Group 1 placing would add plenty to her broodmare value, and just as much that 1100m under handicap conditions at her home track is certainly what Shamal Wind does best. In the run up to the race, Robert Smerdon executed the plan to perfection, keeping the mare fresh and well between runs and for her part, Shamal Wind was electric.
Rider Dwayne Dunn again excelled in having Shamal Wind in the right position, and though that position looked impossibly far back on the home turn, when he asked Shamal Wind to get down and race, she unleashed her trademark devastating sprint. With ears firmly pinned, she ran home in a world-class 32.99 seconds for the final 600m, with her final four 200m sections run in an average of 10.85 seconds – it would have been no surprise to see burn marks on the Caulfield surface!
To place in a Group 1 was the best laid plan for Shamal Wind, for her to win was the ultimate thrill. Her owners, the Love family, could not be more deserving of this win at the top level – the first in their unique love heart colours – and look sure to have plenty more big days with this incredibly tough mare, both on the race track and later in the breeding barn.