3 minute read

Prominent thoroughbred breeder and owner Peter Walker has been associated with any number of top gallopers during his many years in thoroughbred racing so when he says he has a filly that “really excites him” it pays to take notice.

Walker was referring to Shees Flawless who destroyed a handy field of three-year-old sprinters by just on five lengths at Awapuni on Saturday, in the process clocking a swift 1.09.44 for the 1200 metre journey.

Walker bred the daughter of Fully Fledged in association with partners Sir Patrick Hogan and Alistair Sutherland and leased the filly to his son Jason and several of his friends. When the syndicate needed a fifth member Walker agreed to join in, a decision that he is glad he made.

“She is a lovely filly who showed she could run right from day one but it’s probably only now that they’ve worked out how to get the best out of her,” he said.

“She needs to be given her head when she jumps as in the past when they have tried restraining her she has resented it, thrown her head around and raced quite ungenerously.

“She has a very high cruising speed but will come back to you in the run and settle beautifully if you let her do her own thing at the start. Sam (Spratt) suits her and she has ridden her perfectly in her last two starts and you saw what she can do.”

Spratt bounced the filly straight to the front on Saturday and after enjoying an uncontested lead she turned up the heat on her opponents as she reached the home turn. Asked for a serious effort Shees Flawless bounded away before being eased at the line to score comfortably from Perfect Fit and Star O’Fraaj, who chased gamely in the run home.

“I was talking with Gary Vile after the race and he said they rarely break 1.10 for the 1200 metres here so to go the time she did and still appear to do it so easily makes you feel pretty excited about what we have on our hands,” said Walker.

Safely through Saturday’s performance Shees Flawless will head to the Gr. 3 Windsor Park Stud Breeders Stakes at Te Rapa on 25 April for her next outing.

“She will have a crack at the Breeders Stakes at Te Rapa and then she may have a spell,” said Walker.

“With what she has shown us now there is every reason to think with another six months on her she could be up with the best sprinters next season which is something to really look forward to.”