Superstar filly Lady Shenandoah sets weight-carrying record this century in Group 1 Coolmore Classic victory

Brilliant filly Lady Shenandoah maintained her perfect autumn record with a weight-carrying record win in the Group 1 Coolmore Classic, which could be her final run of the campaign.

Lady Shenandoah holds out late-charging stablemate Firestorm to win the Group 1 Coolmore Classic at Rosehill. Picture: Getty Images

Lady Shenandoah, racing’s “Miss Perfect”, continued her unbeaten season and netted a third Group 1 win at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.

Despite being burdened with more weight than any three-year-old filly has successfully carried in the $1m Coolmore Classic (1500m) this century, it couldn’t stop Lady Shenandoah from beating her older rivals.

But this wasn’t a pushover for Chris Waller’s superstar filly.

She had to chase down her arch rival Lady Of Camelot and then hold off the late charge of stablemate Firestorm.

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Waller conceded it was a tough run in very hot conditions before hinting we may not see Lady Shenandoah again this season.

“I do tend to change my mind a little bit as I’m getting older but I would say it is highly unlikely,” Waller said when asked if Lady Shenandoah will continue to race this autumn.

“But I will speak to the owners - with due respect to them of course - and work out what she needs to do to be right in the spring.”

Lady Shenandoah has only had three starts for autumn – and two last spring – and has won them all.

Her Coolmore Classic success was her third Group 1 win after her successes in the Surround Stakes and Flight Stakes.

“The good fillies that we have had just kept getting better and better and better,” Waller said.

“She’s already there so our job is to try and get her to that next level again - repeat success at Group 1 level.

“It’s not going to be easy for her and some of those great horses that we have had have been late maturers so I don’t like to compare - but Winx wasn’t doing this at this age.”

She's a special filly! 🌟

That's five in a row for Lady Shenandoah as she wins the G1 Coolmore Classic! 👌@mcacajamez 🤝 @cwallerracingpic.twitter.com/l0F6VXESKO

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) March 15, 2025

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Lady Shenandoah ($2.60 favourite), ridden by James McDonald, became the first three-year-old filly to win the Coolmore since Typhoon Tracy when she scored by a head from the fast finishing Firestorm ($14) with Lady Of Camelot ($5) a half-length away third.

She gave Waller and McDonald their 45th Group 1 win together and her 54.5kg impost is the most any three-year-old filly has carried to win a Coolmore since Assertive Lass had 55.5kg when she won in 1997.

McDonald said Lady Shenandoah, a daughter of super sire Snitzel, showed her fierce will-to-win to hold off older mare Firestorm, who she was conceding 3kg.

“She’s pretty good,” McDonald said.

“But she wasn’t entitled to win, she was all out at the 100m, and she was worked up prior to the start which was a bit of a concern.

“She showed her quality fighting spirit. I think that she is a fast filly and as she gets older and starts filling out into her frame I think that she will come back in trip and be even faster.”

Lady Shenandoah may be sent for a spell after winning the Coolmore Classic. Picture: Getty Images

Lady Shenandoah has been challenging for favouritism at $8 in the Group 1 $4m Doncaster Mile (1600m) at Royal Randwick on April 5 virtually since markets were first framed.

She has 51.5kg and is eligible for a re-handicap after her Coolmore win.

Waller said Lady Shenandoah’s win wasn’t “straight forward” but the filly again demonstrated her class and elite ability.

“The race wasn’t perfect, it’s a warm Rosehill day, and she had a good sweat before the race which scared me a little,” Waller said.

“But it was a great ride by James from that draw to get into the spot that he did and that certainly saved a bit of petrol for late.”

Waller recorded his 174th Australian Group 1 win of career and his 14th major for the season with his Coolmore quinella. Nature Strip also gave the trainer and international Group 1 with his win in the King’s Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot three years ago.

"She wasn't entitled to win."

J-Mac was full of praise for Lady Shenandoah in her classy Coolmore Classic win! 👌 pic.twitter.com/hb8MfHShEF

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) March 15, 2025

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McDonald rode his 86th Australian Group 1 winner on Lady Shenandoah, moving one clear of Mick Dittman and into outright eighth overall on the all-time list behind Damien Oliver on 125 majors.

When international Group 1 wins are included on career tallies, McDonald has surged into third overall with 112 big-race wins behind Oliver on 129 and the late George Moore on 126.

It’s hard to take anything away from the winner but Firestorm ran a blinder for second and showed she is emerging as a definite lightweight Doncaster Mile chance with only 50kg.

“She was quite phenomenal late,” said Tyler Schiller, rider of Firestorm.

“I thought at the top of the straight she was just getting her right leg but just had to balance up. I don’t feel like she was getting through her gears quick enough for the 1500m.

“She really picked up late and I was surprised how close she got. She’s a really nice mare.”

Lady Of Camelot was trapped three-wide without cover early and her effort to finish third was outstanding.

Trainer Adrian Bott said Lady Of Camelot is likely to be aimed at the Group 1 $1 million Queen of the Turf Stakes over the Randwick 1600m course during The Championships next month.

Originally published as Superstar filly Lady Shenandoah sets weight-carrying record this century in Group 1 Coolmore Classic victory