Shedaresthedevil nominated for Eclipse Award

Shedaresthedevil – part-owned by Qatar Racing – has been shortlisted for a prestigious Eclipse Award, specifically the Older Dirt Female Award.

The daughter of Daredevil added four more wins to her resume as a four-year-old in 2021, including the Gr.1 La Troienne Stakes at Churchill Downs and Gr.1 Clement L. Hirsch Stakes at Del Mar.

Shedaresthedevil then changed hands for $5m at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky November Sale, with Whisper Hill Farm joining forces with two of her previous owners Qatar Racing and Flurry Racing.

Up against Shedaresthedevil for the Older Dirt Female Eclipse Award are Gr.1 Breeders’ Cup Distaff winner Marche Lorraine, Japan's first Eclipse finalist, and Letruska, who won four Gr.1s, a Gr.2 and a Gr.3 in 2021.

In hindsight, the decision to miss the 2020 Breeders’ Cup with Shedaresthedevil proved inspired as she returned at the top of her game in 2021, winning the Gr.2 Azeri Stakes before following up in the La Troienne.

“We thought the right thing to do was give her some time, bring her back, and campaign her as a four-year-old with our goal being the Breeders’ Cup Distaff,” Shedaresthedevil's trainer Brad Cox told the racing press.

Shedaresthedevil did get to the Distaff in November and, while only sixth to Marche Lorraine (ironically ridden by Qatar Racing’s retained jockey Oisin Murphy) after going hard and wide into the first bend, she still became an Eclipse Award nominee last Saturday.

Winners in 17 horse and human categories will be announced during the 51st annual Eclipse Awards on February 10. The evening will culminate with the announcement of the 2021 Horse of the Year.