TALENTED mare Sh’bourne Spirit will most likely be aimed at the $100,000 Newmarket Handicap in December after an impressive first-up win in the Open Handicap over 1120m at The TOTE Racing Centre in Launceston on Wednesday night.
With Anthony Darmanin in the saddle, Sh’bourne Spirit trailed the leader Private Currency that was aiming for six wins in succession.
But when Darmanin called on his mare for the supreme effort in the home straight she forged clear and went on to defeat Private Currency and Geegees Black Flash in a blanket finish for the minor placings.
It was the mare’s eighth victory in only 14 starts and trainer Bill Ryan was keen to talk up the mare’s talent.
“She’s be aimed at the better fillies and mares races such as the Bow Mistress and Vamos Stakes but she is more than capable against the boys and she’ll show that in the Newmarket,” Ryan said.
The trainer said he would see how the winner pulled up before deciding on any lead-up runs before the Newmarket in five weeks.
Longer term, Sh’bourne Spirit will tackle the feature mares’ races over the summer carnival.