By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk
A headline-grabbing sales-topper two years ago, Moet Shard will debut at Addington on Friday night.
The royally-bred filly has had a patient build-up to her first race day start with trainer Jeff Whittaker saying she is far from the finished product.
“We are happy with where she’s at but she will continue to get stronger and better,” says Whittaker.
Sold for $280,000, Moet Shard topped the NZB Standardbred yearling sales in 2020.
By Bettor’s Delight, Moet Shard is out of Christian Cullen mare, Pemberton Shard, who was owned and raced by Debbie and Mark Smith at Shard Farm in Invercargill. They also bred, owned and prepared Moet Shard for the yearling sales.
It was the first purchase at a yearling sales by North Canterbury farmer Graham McClintock, who owns the filly with two of his granddaughters, Louisa and Georgia.
“Graham’s been very good in making sure the horse is looked after,” says Whittaker.
And it’s taken time to get the horse race ready.
“She was not an early two-year-old,” says Whittaker, “we gave her three or four trials before we qualified her, so she can keep learning.”
Moet Shard qualified at Rangiora in March this year in 2:33.3 (2000m), a mile rate of 2:03.3.
“She’s had two thirds at the workouts,” says Whittaker, “so we are happy with where she’s at.”
“She’s a typical Bettor’s Delight – she’s quite small, but has a good gait and her manners are improving.”
Because of her price tag and profile there will be plenty of eyeballs on Moet Shard when she lines up in the Fahey Skip and Waste Fillies and Mares Mobile Pace but Whittaker’s not one to buy into the hype.
“There’s been no pressure from Graham at all, he’s said when she’s ready, she’s ready,” says Whittaker.
Moet Shard’s drawn one the second row over 1980m on Friday night.
“If she ran in the first four or five that would be good, practice is the best thing and hopefully she’ll get stronger and better and better.”
“Plus the mother got better as she got older.”
Of Pemberton Shard’s 11 wins, she had four each during her four and five-year-old campaigns.
Depending on how Moet Shard comes through her first race night experience Whittaker is planning to get more racing into the filly in coming months.
“The more time she has the better.”
Ultimately she will end up in the broodmare paddock.
“She was bought to be bred from.”
Moet Shard’s debut is in Race 2 at 5.53pm.
