Shandale looking for a change of luck

If there is one harness racing three year old in New Zealand that deserves the tag of being consistently unlucky, Shandale would have a big head start over his competition.

Right from the start of his racing career at two, the big upstanding son of Art Major has been plagued by shocking draws whenever the big money has been in play.

Shandale has proved several times that he is more than competitive at the highest level but he just can't get a decent draw in the big races for love or money.

In his first big race at two,Shandale drew barrier three and finished a fine second to Lazarus in the $195,000 PGG Sales Race.

From then on the draws just went from bad to worse.

* 2 year old Sires Stakes Final – Drew barrier 7 and finished 4th

* 2 year old Harness Jewels – Drew barrier 14 and finished 9th

* 3 year old Sire Stakes Final  – Drew barrier 15 and finished 11th

* 3 year old PGG Sales Race  – Drew barrier 15 and finished  4th

In between these races,Shandale drew barrier two in the $45,000 Alabar Classic at Alexandra Park and finished a fine second to Lazarus once again.

Trainer driver Maurice McKendry couldn't be happier with his charge as he has prepared him for the Woodlands Stud Northern Derby.

" He has come up really well this time in and I couldn't be happier with him at this stage."

" He will trial next week and then hopefully race the week after as a lead into the Derby," Maurice told Harnesslink today.

Maurice is well aware of the challenge presented by Lazarus and his stablemates.

" Lazarus has proven himself repeatedly at this level but my fella has beaten all the others at some stage so we can get amongst it if we could just draw a decent marble for once."

" I can't remember having a horse that has drawn so poorly so often in the big races," Maurice said.

Shandale is one of those horses that flies under the radar most of the time but he has pocketed $94,051 in stakes to date and has twice run second to Lazarus in stakes races when he has copped a good draw.

Shandale is certainly overdue a decent marble in a big race and it would be nice if he could draw well just for once in the Woodlands Stud Northern Derby.

Harnesslink Media