by Mike Love
Russley trainer Steve Dolan couldn’t be happier with his filly Our Shangri Lana after taking out the Group one Dunstan Horsefeeds Sires’ Stakes 2YO Fillies Final at Addington on Friday.
“It’s so exciting, and I’m so stoked! It was easier feeding the horses tonight in the rain than it usually would be.”
Our Shangri Lana led from barrier one for visiting Australian driver Cameron Hart, where they remained for the remainder of the race, holding off all challenges to win by a neck from runner up Madrid for Mark and Nathan Purdon. Favourite Coastal Babe got the trail behind Our Shangri Lana but couldn’t make much headway, finishing fourth.
“We put the blinds on her today to sharpen her up if she ended up leading. And the beauty with her is that if she was crossed, she’d still relax in the blinds anyway,” Dolan said of his charge.
“Cameron (Hart) drove Amore Vita twice for two wins, so he has kept that strike rate 100% with me.”
It was his second Group 1 for the week, following Swayzee’s New Zealand Cup triumph three days earlier.
Our Shangri Lana is raced by John and Marsha MacKenzie, who also bred her.
“She was supposed to be sold, but it didn’t quite get across the line. So we were left with her. I told the owners not to panic, and here we are.”
“I told them if you give me some time with this horse we will win a Group 1! It came a little bit sooner than we expected, but it’s a great start.”
“She’s got such a great gait, good attitude and ticks all the right boxes.”
The MacKenzies breed and sell most of their stock, including recent star Rock N Roll Doo who has currently won over $500,000 in stakes in Australia.
Dolan celebrated the win on course with Devon van Til, Laura McKay who is Dolan’s “right hand man” at the stables, along with his daughter Taylah.
“Having them all there with me made it extra special.”
Our Shangri Lana will likely head towards the Ace Of Diamonds on Grand Prix day at Addington on December 10th.
“She’s still 5 or 6 months away yet. She’s still growing and will only get stronger.”