Mary Shan suggests promising spring with comeback victory

Mary Shan and Matt Cameron make a successful return at Wanganui. Photo / Jane Davidson

Quality mare Mary Shan launched her spring campaign in stunning fashion when she stormed home to capture the Cloudsoft Accounting Systems Open at Wanganui.

The Andrew Forsman-prepared 5-year-old was fitted for her resuming run with a pair of Taupō trials, finishing second in the first one over 900m behind Captured By Love before going one better a fortnight later over 1100m with raceday rider Matthew Cameron in the saddle.

With the race expected to be run at breakneck speed with several noted frontrunners engaged, the opposite played out as the well-supported Cosentino set up a leisurely pace to suit himself with only Amend prepared to look him in the eye in the early stages.

Cameron had Mary Shan back beyond midfield before he began to get handier on the daughter of Almanzor as the field raced towards the home turn.

Amend quickly mastered Cosentino after straightening for home and shot two lengths clear of her rivals, however, Mary Shan was just starting to wind up widest on the track.

Amend looked to have the race secure before Mary Shan put in several huge bounds to carry her to the front within the shadows of the post, lodging her third career victory by a neck.

Forsman stable representative Joe Walker was pleased with the fresh-up performance as he outlined the stable’s plans for the mare.

“We thought there might have been a bit more speed on, but she picked up from the 800m although he [Cameron] had to keep at her,” Walker said.

“It was a great effort.

“We have been tossing up about [starting in] the Taranaki Breeders’ Stakes [Group 3, 1400m] or the Merial Metric Mile [Group 3, 1600m] and we thought this was the right race to kick her off in.

“She has come back in good order and I thought her two trials leading in were very good.

“She has always shown promise and has raced in a lot of good fields.”

Mary Shan also holds a nomination for the Group 1 Howden Insurance Mile (1600m) at Te Rapa on September 27 as well as the Group 3 Join TAB Racing Club Mile (1600m) at Riccarton on November 12.

Out of the unraced High Chaparral mare Shanzam, Mary Shan was purchased for $180,000 by Forsman out of the Prima Park draft during the Book 1 Sale at Karaka in 2022.

She has now won three of her 18 starts and more than $383,000 in prizemoney for owners Jackie Rogers and Gerald Shand.

– LOVERACING.NZ News Desk