Shamal Wind Trials For Royal Ascot

G1 Oakleigh Plate winner Shamal Wind (Aus) (Dubawi {Ire}) put in her final major preparation before departing Australia for Royal Ascot when finishing second in an 800-meter barrier trial at Cranbourne Monday. Trainer Robert Smerdon told Racing and Sports he was “really happy” with the 5-year-old’s trial. 

“It was what we wanted, just a nice gallop and everything is coming together,” Smerdon said. “[Rider Damien Oliver] wanted to give her a more testing hit-out in the straight, but he had no real galloping room getting up behind those horses so he said he kept her going through the line to make sure she had a decent gallop. We were pretty pleased with that. It was good.” 

Jockey Ryan Moore is set to ride Shamal Wind in the G1 King’s Stand S. on the opening day of the meeting June 16, but Oliver could get the call if Moore is required for a Ballydoyle runner. Oliver will be at the meeting to ride the Gai Waterhouse-trained Wandjina (Aus) (Snitzel {Aus}) in the G1 Diamond Jubilee S.