SHESACHRISTIAN SET FOR FINAL RACE CAMPAIGN
Shesachristian, who resumes in the Keith Ussher “Architecture” Mobile Pace for 4YO and older mares at the Rangiora meeting at Addington on Thursday September 23, has a date with speed sire McArdle this spring.
“She’ll be going to McArdle very shortly and will probably race on until after Christmas, providing her form holds up,” said Burnham trainer Mark Jones.
“She’s done a bloody good job, winning over $100,000,” he said.
Now six, the Christian Cullen-Achy Breaky Heart mare won a Sires’ Stakes Fillies Heat at two, then was a nose second to Natal Franco in the Group Three Nevele R Stakes in her debut season.
She was good enough to contest the Nevele R Fillies Final at three, then won the Avon City Ford Canterbury Regional Country Cups Championship at four.
Shesachristian was winless at five, but picked up three minor placings in 17 appearances.
“If she tried another 10 percent she would have been a good horse,” Mark said.
“But she’s from a good family, she’s tough and good-gaited, so she should breed on well,” he said.
The half-sister to former NZ 2YO Championship runnerup Anothernightout (12 wins) belongs to the famed Black Watch family.
Her third dam Tata Matapo, was an unraced half-sister by Tudor Hanover to Black Watch, and gained notoriety herself by leaving five winners including the former top Bob and Vin Knight-prepared 1980s pacer Smooth Falcon (1:57.5, Aust).
Shesachristian, unraced since finishing unplaced in the Cheviot Cup in March, has been progressing well with back-to-back Saturday workout wins at the Motukarara workouts.
“It will be a bit of a step up to what she races raceday,” Mark said.
She was back early in the six-horse 1-win and faster mobile 2200m heat at last Saturday’s Motukarara workout, improved to challenge turning for home and scored by a head from Pretty Dollybird in a sound 2:50.5 (2:04.6 mile rate).
The leaders quickened over their last 800m in 58.7s and final 400m in 28.6s.
Shesachristian starts from the outside of the front row in Thursday’s preferential draw 1-4 wins mares race, and although it won’t be easy from the wide gate, she shouldn’t be disgraced.
“She’s come up quite good,” Mark said.
“Hopefully we can steal another win with her before she finishes racing,” he said, tongue-in-cheek.
By Jeff Scott