11th Group One Winner for Encosta

13th April 2008

Encosta de Lago posted his 11^th individual Group One winner at Morphettville on Saturday when five year-old gelding Shadoways (5g Encosta de Lago x Be My Pride, Pride of Place) scored a dominant victory in the Group One SAJC Goodwood Handicap over 1200 metres.

Prepared by Gwenda Johnstone at Echuca, Shadoways enjoyed a great run in fourth spot and zoomed through along the fence to score by the best part of two lengths over Cargo Cult.

Considered unlucky last start when eighth to the champion three year-old Weekend Hussler in the Group One VRC Newmarket Handicap, Shadoways bounced back to snare the biggest win of his career in providing his trainer and jockey Mark Pegus with their first Group One success.

Retained to race by his breeders, Shadoways has been a sensational money-spinner in winning six races from 25 starts and earning $691,650 in prizemoney.

Unlike the current crop of Encosta de Lago yearlings that are all from blue-blooded mares, Shadoways was conceived in Victoria in 2001 off a fee of $12,500 and his dam Be My Pride has a pedigree barren of Black Type in the immediate removes.

A winner of four minor races by the Showdown stallion Pride of Place from the Bletchingly mare Benefice, Be My Pride has done a sterling job at stud in producing six winners with Shadoways the best followed by the Group Three placed sprinter Shadowmaker.

Shadoways becomes the 11^th individual Australian stakes-winner this season for Encosta de Lago who is leading the general sires list by earnings, stakes-winners and winners.

Encosta de Lago is poised to impress at the upcoming Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale with over 60 yearlings catalogued for Australia’s number one sale.