Partnership punt pays off with Myer Classic win

Some of the biggest punts in racing have nothing to do with totes or bookmakers.

One of them, the $1.9 million purchase of in-foal broodmare The Broken Shore by Jonathan Munz & Arrowfield, paid off on Derby Day at Flemington, when her daughter Shoals withstood every challenge to win the $500,000 VRC Myer Classic 1600m G1.

As Jonathan Munz said, “We backed ourselves when we bought the mare from the Teeley Dispersal and this is the best result we could have wished for.”

The 3YO filly, bought in utero with her mother, has barely missed a beat in her five-win, 7-start career. With only 50 kg to carry, she was favoured to give the Myer Classic a big shake after her gallant second to Aloisia in the Thousand Guineas G1 three weeks ago. 

And so she did, as jockey Dean Yendall perfectly executed the pre-race plan to use Shoals’ gate speed to take up a forward position,  settle her just off the lead, then strike hard and put pressure on her older rivals, all carrying 57 kg.  

Shoals had the race under control 300 metres out, but Yendall had to call on her fighting spirit as Eckstein, Dixie Blossoms and Beneteau’s daughter Prompt Response threw everything into the finish.

The filly’s class and courage took her through the last 50 metres for a narrow but decisive victory, much to the delight of Jonathan Munz, Pinecliff Racing Manager Rocket Douglas and Team Arrowfield led by Paul & Alice Messara.   

Shoals had visibly progressed since her Guineas second, and both her work last week and Aloisia’s Moonee Valley Vase win indicated that a more serious 1600-metre test was within her capability.

Trainer Anthony Freedman has had sole responsibility for Shoals this season, after brother Lee’s departure for Singapore. He said after the Myer Classic, “We got confident when Aloisia won last Saturday. 

“We decided to keep something up our sleeve for this race. She was incredibly tough today. There’s no reason she can’t win a few more Group Ones.”

Her status as a Group 1 winner – and Group 2, Group 3 & Listed winner – enhances Shoals’ already substantial value as a daughter of champion sire Fastnet Rock and a Hussonet half-sister to champion sire Redoute’s Choice. 

Shoals’ story is a new chapter in the book of one of Australia’s most illustrious female families. The prospects of Shoals’ Autumn campaign, plus her 2YO full sister Tides, their yearling full brother and a colt foal by Medaglia D’Oro give Jonathan Munz and Arrowfield much to look forward to.