Chances are you're about to lose.
For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au
Champion trainer Chris Waller finally claimed a breakthrough victory in the Group 1 $1 million Toorak Handicap (1600m) at Caulfield on Saturday as classy mare Lady Shenandoah overcame top weight, a wide draw and a wall of horses in the straight to score a gritty victory under master jockey James McDonald.
The multiple Group 1 winning daughter of Snitzel started a $5.50 equal favourite and showed her trademark determination to edge out the fast-finishing Changing Colours by a head, with Welcometotheshow another short head away in third in a thrilling finish to one of the feature races of the afternoon.
Carrying 58kg against a quality handicap field, Lady Shenandoah produced what Waller described as one of the finest victories of her already decorated career, adding the prestigious Toorak Handicap to previous elite level wins in the Flight Stakes, Surround Stakes and Coolmore Classic.
Waller was effusive in his praise of both mare and rider following the narrow but courageous success.
“It’s credit to a good horse and a good ride from James,” he told the media post-win.
“That was one of the best you will ever see with the big weight and for a mare, that’s massive.
“And then the wide draw and to have a wall of horses in front of them turning for home.
“She’s a really good horse and I think that’s her fourth Group 1 and she’s done it in handicaps.
“Not many horses do that in handicaps after three Group 1’s.”
The champion trainer revealed Lady Shenandoah’s trip south was only confirmed after extensive consultation with his form team and McDonald.
“I spoke to our form man, and he did a good job and said she was a genuine top three chance, and James; James said we can win it,” Waller said.
“We kept that pretty close to our chest, but with James coming down and Ben already riding Birdman as he had won a Group 1 on him, I thought I can’t just bring you down here for the Guineas as the Guineas, we didn’t think we could win it, but we could run top three, and with that, and James saying she can win, we decided to bring her down.”
Waller believes the mare has firmly established herself as one of the country’s premier performers between 1400m and a mile.
“I guess so. She was unlucky in The Everest last year,” he said.
“She has won the Flight Stakes, she has won the Coolmore.
“She is a very good horse.”
The victory has opened the door to a potential Melbourne Cup Carnival campaign, with the Group 1 $1 million Empire Rose Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on Derby Day emerging as her likely next assignment.
“The key with her is we normally leave them down, but we took her home. She doesn’t do that well down here,” Waller said.
“We’ve got three weeks. I had her booked in to go to the farm tomorrow, so I’ll have a think whether to send her there or take her back home.”
Waller again returned to the ride, describing it as the difference between winning and losing.
“She’s a very good horse and she has proven that today,” he added.
“It was a very good ride from James. He’s just a master and it is great to work with him week in, week out.
“That was really one of the all-time greats, that ride. With 58 kilos for a mare, and awkward draw, there’s not an inch to spare and he saved every inch he could.
“Kept the momentum. It was the difference between winning and not.”
Watching from the grandstand, Waller admitted the final stages were nerve-racking.
“It was tight, very tight,” he said.
“Changing Colours, I’m sorry for spoiling their party because they’ve done a great job with that horse to get it up to Group 1 level, but she was good the last 100 metres.”
The result also delivered Waller his first Toorak Handicap success.
“I’ll have to come down here more often,” the master trainer said.
McDonald was equally delighted to see the popular mare return to the winners’ circle after a string of brave performances without luck.
“Huge thrill,” he said.
“She hadn’t won for a while and I keep saying to everyone that it’s not that she doesn’t try, she’s got great tenacity, but she just hasn’t had much luck and she’s raced against the best horses in the land.”
The champion jockey produced a daring ride, squeezing through a narrow gap in the straight before driving the mare to victory.
“For her to win like that, she aimed up a needle-eye gap, she just burst through. An incredible performance, really,” McDonald added.
“Great for the team to get her over the line and I think Chris and the team will be over the moon with that because everyone in the stable loves her. You can tell why, she’s just a beauty.”
The beaten brigade also lost little in defeat. Luke Cartwright praised the runner-up after Changing Colours came agonisingly close to a Group 1 breakthrough.
“She began honest, but ended up in a lovely position in the three-wide line with cover,” he said.
“I just wanted to keep clear running for her, and around the corner I just had to cover a bit too much ground than I would have liked.
“She showed a really good turn of foot, but unfortunately that horse ended up getting a run and got us on the line, but it was a really good run.”
Third-place jockey Craig Newitt was equally proud of the performance from Welcometotheshow.
“He run his guts out,” Newitt said.
“He gave me a beautiful ride, he lobbed into a good spot, I was winner the whole way down the straight, it just took a superstar to run him down.”
Bookmakers were quick to react to Lady Shenandoah’s return to Group 1 winning form, with Ladbrokes trimming her Empire Rose Stakes 2026 odds from $11 into $5, positioning her among the leading chances for the Flemington feature on Derby Day.
Empire Rose Stakes 2026 Odds
| 1. Autumn Glow | ||
| 2. Pride Of Jenni | ||
| 3. Lady Shenandoah | ||
| 4. Sheza Alibi | ||
| 5. Idle Flyer |
Having now added the Toorak Handicap to an already impressive Group 1 résumé, Lady Shenandoah has once again proven her elite class, and if she heads to the Empire Rose Stakes next, she will be one of the mares to beat during the Melbourne Cup Carnival.
