Xpressmymind photo: Race Images South
Explosive pace earned Shamexpress Group One sprinting honours and shades of that were on show at Riccarton on Saturday when the Windsor Park Stud resident sired his first winner.
The well-credentialled stallion’s daughter Xpressmymind flew the outside gate in the New Zealand Bloodstock Insurance Pearl Series Race (900m) to cross the field and lead under rider Courtney Barnes.
She travelled comfortably and sprinted clear in the run home to turn the tables on Miroslava, who had beaten her on debut last month when Xpressmymind had sat wide without cover.
“She’s a really nice filly who hasn’t done anything wrong,” part-owner and trainer Andrew Carston said.
“It’s been a good team effort and they’re only two once so as long as she comes through this race well we’ll go again.”
Bred by Peter and Sue Westend, Xpressmymind was purchased by Carston out of their their 2017 Select Yearling Sale draft for $14,000. This was her second raceday appearance, following a second placing on debut in December, she has already returned her owners, Carston and Janice Banks, $26,560 in stakes including the NZB Insurance Pearl Series Bonus.
Windsor Park studmaster Rodney Schick was understandably delighted and far from surprised by the result.
“It’s great for Andrew and he had told me that she was a really smart filly,” he said.
“It’s really exciting and great to get that first winner under his belt. He’s had very good books of mares and his yearlings have sold well.”
Shamexpress was the Group One winner of the Newmarket Handicap (1200m) before his retirement to the Cambridge nursery.
He is a New Zealand-bred son of O’Reilly, who on Friday evening was inducted into the New Zealand Racing Hall Of Fame, and the Volksraad mare Volksrose. – NZ Racing Desk.
