Shillelagh left behind the frustrations of autumn as she proved too strong for favourite Daysee Doom in the Godolphin Crown at Hawkesbury on Saturday. The Savabeel mare finally found firm footing and a victory on Saturday and trainer Chris Waller believes she can push on into the Brisbane winter carnival.
![On firm footing: Tye Angland rides Shillelagh on the outside to win the Godolphin Crown.](/web/20170504174159im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/v/v/d/h/c/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gvvbec.png/1493449271659.jpg)
"I know she has won twice on a wet track but she has been able to be effective like a lot of horses this time around. She actually had to jump a fallen runner first-up and then was never at home on wet tracks," Waller said. "That gave us an idea of what she can do and I think a race like the Tatts Tiara would not be out of reach for her if she gets firm footing."
Daysee Doom had looked the winner before Shillelagh let go with a big sprint. "She's got some turn of foot," Tye Angland said. "She jumped OK. I would have liked to have been a tad closer but I had to deal with the cards I was dealt and it was a matter of timing the run. She surprised me how strong she was late.
"I gave her a little quicken and she responded but the last 100 metres was first rate."
The result gave Waller a winning double after Great Glen just held off stablemate Mortar Platoon to take the Provincial Stayers Handicap to open the stand-alone meeting.
Daddy goes all the way
Anthony Cummings certainly likes Uncle Mos and the Coolmore stallion added another black-type success to his resume when progeny Go Daddy Go won the Clarendon Stakes at Hawkesbury on Saturday.
"I think that is four we have had win and four that are stakes horses," Cummings said after Go Daddy Go got the bob in to beat Hawkesbury-trained pair Fifth Affair and Charlie Chap.
"They just need a dry track and this is the first dry track since Man From Uncle won the Hobartville [Stakes in February]."
![Right pace: Jason Collett and Go Daddy Go, centre, win the Clarendon Stakes.](http://web.archive.org./web/20170504174159im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/v/v/b/9/a/image.imgtype.articleLeadwide.620x349.png/1493433821311.png)
Right pace: Jason Collett and Go Daddy Go, centre, win the Clarendon Stakes. Photo: bradleyphotos.com.au
Cummings would like to take Go Daddy Go to Brisbane, but the Eagle Farm track will be the determining factor if he goes north or to the spelling paddock.
"We are going to have a look at how it races today because if it is loose, it would be a waste of time going up there," Cummings said. "I think he is good enough to be competitive but only on a fair track that is firm."
Tempo suits Felines
Kris Lees walked away a winner from Saturday's Gold Rush and put Felines' success in the 1100m event down to tempo as much as her ability to run out the trip. "There aren't enough 1000 metres for her and the 1100m just about sees her out," Lees said. "She was going to win by a length when she went past me at the 100m but she only just gets that trip."
A slow early tempo played to the strengths of Felines, which broke 32.83 seconds for her final 600m and in the process took Lees' other main chance - Clearly Innocent - out of the race. "The tempo probably won her the race and cost him his chance," Lees said. "He is going to a 1300m race at Scone, the Luskin Star Stakes; he won last year and will be really hard to beat there on that run.
"We could have a couple of winners out of the race there because the Ortensia [Stakes over 1100m] at Scone is an option for Felines next but we'll just see how she comes through this run."
![Just in time: Hugh Bowman gets clear on Felines.](http://web.archive.org./web/20170504174159im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/v/v/f/2/6/image.imgtype.articleLeadwide.620x349.png/1493448888192.png)
Just in time: Hugh Bowman gets clear on Felines. Photo: bradleyphotos.com.au
Lloyd dictates pace
Premier Brisbane jockey Jeff Lloyd was seen at his best in a clever front-running ride on Music Magnate to win the Victory Stakes. A runaway leader in this year's premiership, Lloyd has won many of his races by leading and dictating the pace. And that was exactly what he did aboard Music Magnate on Saturday, letting him stroll through the first 1000 metres of the 1200m race.
Music Magnate then kicked away in the straight to win by 1-1/4 lengths from Hopfgarten, with the same margin back to third-placed Miss Cover Girl. Lloyd said he was sure Music Magnate would benefit from the run, which was his first since March 18 as he looks to defend his Doomben 10,000 title before running in the Kingsford Smith Cup.
"I think a few horses who ran on that track today will know they have been in a race tomorrow. It was nice to be on a horse which travelled so well and he was able to kick away in the straight," Lloyd said.
The ultimate racing form guide with free tips, live odds and alerts for all racing.