Group 1-winning Filly up for sale

Purchasers have the rare opportunity to bid on a proven Group 1-winning filly in gavelhouse.com Standardbred’s latest online auction.

The Nathan Purdon-trained Shezsofast has given her connections plenty of thrills to date, winning two of her nine starts, including last season’s Group 1 Caduceus Club 2YO Fillies Classic (2200m), and placing in the Listed NZB Standardbred Harness Million 2YO Fillies Mobile Pace (1980m).

The filly is part-owned by former Group 1-winning thoroughbred trainer Jim Gibbs, who said Shezsofast’s elite-level triumph has been one of his most cherished victories in either code.

“We were there and I have got the photo of that win up on the wall,” Gibbs said. “Being an ex galloping trainer who has had a lot of success, I have got a lot of different photos, but that one especially appeals to us because we have half of her.”

While Gibbs has enjoyed racing the daughter of Vincent, he said another of her owners is in ill health, so they have collectively decided to offer her to the public.

“I have got a partner in her, he is an Australian and his health is very poor, so we have decided to sell her,” Gibbs said.

Bred by Phil Fleming, Shezsofast is out of Group 3-performed American Ideal mare River Polka, a half-sister to Group 2 performer River Waltz. It is also the family of Group 1 winner Gaius Caesar and Group 1 performer Hail Christian.

The winner of 11 races, River Polka has turned into a broodmare gem, having left Shezsofast as well as Group 1 performer Without You and Group 3 performer Polka Delight.

“It is a great family on the dam side,” Gibbs said. “The second dam left two horses that ran 1:52 (and 1:53) in America, and the first dam has left two prominent horses.”

Shezsofast is a three-year-old filly with plenty of upside, who holds residual value as a broodmare prospect.

“I have put a fair price on her by putting her on the market at $60,000,” Gibbs said. “As a three-year-old filly that can come back and race on as a three-year-old in either Australia or New Zealand, I think she is very fairly priced.”

The latest gavelhouse.com Standardbred auction is now live with 15 Lots. Bidding is set to close from 7pm next Wednesday, June 17.