Three Win Saturday - Fashion Shoot Shines

Richly deserving of success, Fashion Shoot (5 m Savabeel - High Fashion, by O'Reilly) capped terrific form with victory in the $65,000 Civic Group Rating 75 1300 metres on Saturday at Te Rapa.

A high-quality mare, Fashion Shoot had recently produced big runs in the Hallmark Stud Handicap (Listed, 1200m) and Concorde Handicap (Gr. 3, 1200m), and most recently got back from the outside gate (10) and worked through with a strong finish for second in the Rating 75 1400 metres on 11 February at Te Rapa.

Similarly, from barrier 12, Fashion Shoot was again positioned back in the field by Opie Bosson, stood the leaders eight lengths 600m out, and let down with a huge finish after circling widest into the straight. 

“We were a fair way off them, but got into a pretty good spot and she was travelling beautifully,” Bosson said.

“I was off the bit for the first half of the race, until the 600-metre mark, but once she got to the outside she really pinned her ears back and had a crack.”

Extending her course record to three wins and a second from four starts, Fashion Shoot ran 1300 metres in a slick 1:16.0, last 600m in 33.5, and shortened in betting to pay $3.60 & $1.70 on the NZ TAB tote. 

“It was a good effort and looks like the track is playing really fair,” Walker said. “She came from a long way back, which was good to see.

“She's one that doesn't have a lot of early speed, but she finishes the races off and hopefully we can pick up a stakes' race with her. That's a whole idea.”

Twice stakes placed, Fashion Shoot has been incredibly consistent throughout her campaign after winning second-up at Te Rapa, and has only once been outside the top three - fourth - in eight starts.

A beautifully put together filly owned by the Te Akau In Vogue Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn-Fenton Ellis MNZM), Fashion Shoot was purchased by David Ellis CNZM for $320,000, from the draft of Waikato Stud, at the NZB 2019 Karaka Book 1 Sale. 

“Thank you to the sponsor and congratulations to the club in presenting a track to absolute perfection,” Ellis said.

“It's the most beautiful track to race on and there will be some great racing here today, on Derby Day.

“I'd like to congratulate the owners that invested in this filly and she's building her value nicely. It really was some sort of performance and she's continuing to go from strength to strength.”

Fashion Shoot is by eight-time Champion Sire Savabeel (Zabeel), a Cox Plate (Gr. 1, 2040m) winning three-year-old and Australasian sire sensation, who recently surpassed his grandfather, Sir Tristram (Sir Ivor), for the number of stakes' winners, and now second to his father, Zabeel (Sir Tristram), as leading stakes producing stallion in New Zealand. 

Her dam, High Fashion (O'Reilly), was an immensely talented race mare with a terrific turn of foot, winning four races including the prestigious Desert Gold Stakes (Gr. 3, 1600m) and Lowland Stakes (Gr. 3, 2100m).

Fashion Shoot was strapped by Cooper Stumbles. 

“Cooper is a young fellow up from the deep-South (Island) and he's already riding track work,” Walker said. “We hope he's going to be Te Akau's next champion apprentice.”

Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz