David Harrison’s impressive filly Sheidel underlined her promise with an exhilarating victory in the Gavin’s Plumbing Handicap (1100m) at Ascot yesterday.
The daughter of Holy Roman Emperor exploded out of the gates to lead for apprentice Emma Stent and despite an early challenge from Shengmu, held that position throughout.
Justifying her rating as the red-hot $1.60 favourite, Sheidel kicked clear in the straight and defeated Secret Nova by a dominant five lengths. Cuanzo ran third.
Harrison said Sheidel, who maintains an unbeaten record of four wins this campaign, was showing all the right signs of developing into a top line sprinter.
“She has gears this horse and the ability to do it at both ends of a race,” said Harrison.
“She flew the gates which was the main thing and held them up a little before quickening.
“She can go hard early or if they take her on she burns them off and away she goes.
“She is a special horse who is improving and getting better with each run.
“I think the world is her oyster at the minute.”
Harrison said he will extend Sheidel’s campaign and tackle the Kalatiara Classic (1200m) on March 28.
Stent, who has scored back-to-back wins on Sheidel, sad she was relishing her experience on the boom three-year-old.
“I obviously haven’t sat on a horse like this before and it’s an amazing feeling,” Stent said.
“To get this opportunity at this stage of my career is really good.
“She settled really nicely when the other horse (Shengmu) came up along side her and when I asked her to go she really let down.”