Hong Kong unlikely for Guineas hope Shadow Hero
Pierro gelding destined for Australian riches at four despite overseas ownership group
The autumn generally sparks a flurry of interest from Asian buyers looking for the next top-class import but, despite his Hong Kong ownership, Shadow Hero (Pierro) is one horse unlikely to continue his career abroad, no matter what happens when he contests tomorrow’s Randwick Guineas (Gr 1, 1600m).
Owned by Hong Kong consortium Sweetbriar Equine, Shadow Hero would earn star billing for the 2021 Hong Kong Derby (Listed, 2000m) – still 12 months from now – should he head to Sha Tin. The gelding would be aiming to emulate another son of Pierro (Lonhro), Furore, who won the four-year-old Classic for trainer Frankie Lor in 2019, having placed in the Rosehill Guineas (Gr 1, 2000m) for Kris Lees as a three-year-old.
However, Sweetbriar Equine principal David Lui told ANZ Bloodstock News that the gelding is likely to continue his career in Australia as a four-year-old next season.
“We didn’t buy him to head to Hong Kong,” said Lui. “When we bought him, we didn’t think that he would be a 2000-metre plus type. In fact, being by a Golden Slipper winner in Pierro out of a sprinting mare, we thought that he’d probably be more like that and he would be a perfect type for Australia.
“However, Pierro has shown that he can produce a good stayer, including Classic winners like Levendi, Pinot and Regal Power. Shadow Hero is a very good horse and, hopefully, he may be the best of them.”
Lui and his Sweetbriar Equine partner Karl Chan purchased Shadow Hero for $260,000 from the 2018 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale, and a cursory glance at his pedigree page shows why they may have expected a sprinter.
Shadow Hero’s dam, Sookie (Casino Prince), won the 2013 Glenlogan Park Stakes (Gr 3, 1350m), while his third dam, Victory Vein (Mr Henrysee), was – like Pierro – a winner of both the AJC Sires’ Produce Stakes (Gr 1, 1400m) and the Champagne Stakes (Gr 1, 1600m).
However, Shadow Hero has shaped as one of the leading seeds, particularly at a mile and beyond, among what is a strong group of three-year-old colts and geldings. From eight starts, he is already a three-time stakes winner, including a maiden Group 1 success in the Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) last October, in which he got the better of subsequent Cox Plate (Gr 1, 2040m) runner-up Castelvecchio (Dundeel).
First-up in the Hobartville Stakes (Gr 2, 1400m) on February 22, Shadow Hero closed off strongly for fifth behind Brandenburg (Burgundy), a performance that had trainer Mark Newnham satisfied with an eye to longer races.
“It was exactly what I expected from him. He was on a track where it was an advantage to be on-pace and close to the inside and he was back and had to make his run wide,” Newnham said.
All roads now lead to Sydney’s three-year-old triple crown, with the Randwick Guineas followed two weeks later by the Rosehill Guineas and then the ATC Australian Derby (Gr 1, 2400m) on day one of The Championships. With likely favourite Super Seth (Dundeel) withdrawn, Shadow Hero finds himself as the headline act for tomorrow’s mile feature.
“His work on Monday on the course proper was very good,” Newnham said. “He’s a clean-winded horse and second-up he’s got a very good record – two starts, two wins. I’m happy with him going into the race.”
Newnham believes the three-year-old is a much stronger horse than he was six months ago, but he acknowledges that is likely to be the case for his rivals, too.
“He’s definitely a better horse but so are the opposition. It’s a natural progression for a three-year-old from the springtime to the autumn,” Newnham said.
“He has filled out quite a bit. He was always tall but he is a big, solid animal now. He is a little bit more aware. I thought he travelled a bit better through the race the other day, and he’s a bit sharper, which will stand him in good stead for the mile second-up.”
While it is full steam ahead for Shadow Hero, plans remain up in the air for the Anthony Freedman-trained Super Seth after he was scratched from the Randwick Guineas due to what was described as a “mild infection” by assistant trainer Sam Freedman.
“He is in Sydney, he settled in well,” said Sam Freedman. “He was nice and fresh out on the track Monday, he had an easy gallop Tuesday. Just Wednesday morning he wasn’t himself.
“We put him first and decided to pull the pin early in the week, treat him and get him right. We took a blood and it showed a mild infection. We made the right decision by the horse to scratch him and get him right and save him for another day.
“Already this morning he was a bit brighter and hopefully we will have him back to 100 per cent soon. He ate his breakfast up this morning, we gave him another hand walk and a pick and he seemed to be a bit brighter.
“We will give him until the weekend and hopefully he will recover quickly and be right to get back out on the track Monday morning.”
Super Seth remains in the final field for the $5 million All-Star Mile (1600m) at Caulfield next weekend, but Freedman said that all options remain on the table for the Caulfield Guineas (Gr 1, 1600m) winner.
“It might be a little bit of an ask to travel the horse back to Melbourne on the back of this and go to the All-Star Mile,” Freedman continued. “But we will just get him right and see how long it takes for him to recover before we make any plans with him.”