Punters were caught off guard when All Saints’ Eve (NZ) (Sacred Falls) claimed victory in the Mode Handicap (1400m) at Warwick Farm on Wednesday.
The three-year-old filly, who was having her third career start, is raced by a group that includes Waikato Stud proprietor Mark Chittick, who stood her sire, dual Doncaster Mile winner Sacred Falls.
Sacred Falls died in December from a liver condition in his fifth season as a stallion.
“I thought the price ($51) was wrong and I said as much publicly that she would run better than her price indicated,” O’Shea said.
“The progeny of Sacred Falls are lovely horses. They are very relaxed.
“We put the hood (blinkers) on her to get her mind on the job.”
All Saints’ Eve was ridden by visiting English jockey Tom Marquand, who is spending his second northern winter in Sydney at O’Shea’s behest.
“Tom is an incredibly strong rider and has done a good deal of work on her,” O’Shea said.
“In fact I wish he could stay here,”
Marquand has ridden four winners in less than two weeks and said All Saints’ Eve delivered on her promise.
“She is relatively straightforward,” he said.
“The extra 200 metres made a difference today. I think she will get further because she is still working it out.”
All Saint’s Eve is out of Encosta de Lago mare Halloween who has also produced Group One winner Hasahalo (NZ) (Savabeel). Waikato Stud will offer a Savabeel colt out of Halloween at the New Zealand Bloodstock Yearling Sale this month as lot 635.
