Shima Shadow blazes Geelong Derby final from wide draw
Shima Shadow used the wide draw to dominate and take out the 2023 Geelong Derby Final at Beckley Park on Saturday night.
Trainer Tom Dailly had four hopes in the 460m final, with Shima Shadow the -142.86 favourite joined by kennelmates Shima Stripe (+3120 ) and Shima Lite ($+7880).
Jumping from the pink box, Shima Shadow flew out of the box to take the lead off Shima Stripe and hit the front.
The race favourite held the front, extending his margin around the corner and kicking away into the straight to beat Shima Stripe by 5.86 lengths in 25.39, giving their trainer the winning quinella.
Avalon-based trainer Michelle Mallia prepared Stomping ($6.80) and Matt Loch ($18.60), who finished in third and fourth places respectively.
2023 Geeloing Derby Final – Shima Shadown (25.39) T: Tom Dailly
The winning time improved on his previous best of 25.42, clocked on July 7 in a mixed grade contest beating Make No Promise by two lengths.
Last time out, on October 27, he finished third in his heat of the Geelong Derby behind kennelmate Shima Stripe and the winner Stomping, but qualified thanks to a fast time in placing.
The victory in the $10,000-to-the-winner final made it four wins from six starts at the track and trip, while he also has two placings from those starts over the journey.
He is a proven performer, having been a finalist in the Group 2 Ballarat Cup in April, finishing fifth in the final.
He has gone on to also be a finalist in the Listed Pink Diamond Champion Sprinter Final at Warragul on June 16 and last month's Group 2 Bendigo Cup Final.
From a June 2021 litter of six by Bernardo and out of Shima Song, he is the most successful of his littermates, with 15 wins and eight further placings from 35 career starts while earning $82,350 for his syndicate ownership.