Shelbysmile makes Qatar Racing debut

A winner in Australia today could precede further success tomorrow with a new acquisition in America.

The success came via Portman, who won a nine-runner maiden at Bendigdo under Craig Williams for the stable of Danny Mullins. The four-year-old son of Makfi is owned in partnership by Qatar Bloodstock and his trainer.

A bigger prize is the target for Shelbysmile, who was purchased recently as a filly in training at the Fasig-Tipton November Sale by David Reders Bloodstock. Trainer Brendan Walsh had saddled her to win a Stakes race at Woodbine ahead of her ring appearance, and she returned to him to continue racing for a partnership involving Qatar Racing.

Tomorrow she is one of 14 fillies and mares tackling the Gr.2 Mrs Revere Stakes (17.27 local time, 22.27 in UK) at Churchill Downs Walsh has booked Javier Castellano for the ride, although he is disappointed that she has been drawn out wide in stall 13.

Three-year-old Shelbysmile is a daughter of the stallion Smart Strike out of the winning Storm Cat mare Sultana, a full sister to Aljabr, winner of the Gr.1 Sussex Stakes and Gr.1 Lockinge Stakes.