Ian Shield was all smiles after securing the biggest win of his career on Sunday, but if you went back four days to the same venue, it would have been fair to say he wasn’t exactly in the same high spirits and mood.
Ian Shield was at Pinjarra last Wednesday to see his mare Jadavi go around in a 2300m handicap, but that came unstuck when the seven-year-old struck her head on the front barrier gates and was a late scratching.
Having accepted for the Pinjarra Cup, Shield went to his back-up plan, however; it wasn’t his original strategy and privately he had misgivings she could make the big step up and challenge her more credentialed rivals.
But in a mini upset result that cast aside Shield’s reservations, Jadavi romped home to win the Pinjarra Cup (2300m) in emphatic style, surging home powerfully for in form apprentice Holly Watson.
After 20 years, Shield gladly accepted his best result in training, but said he was lucky that Thursday’s letdown had led to a fortuitous ending.
“It’s bloody unreal,” Shield told The Races WA
“It’s my biggest win and I’m pretty chuffed, I’m thrilled and happy for the horse.
“We didn’t have real intentions going to the cup.
“She would have had to pull up a treat (Thursday), which she might have well done.
“We may has started, but that is all maybes.”
Jadavi’s biggest pay day boosted her prizemoney to $212,460 and took her record to seven wins from 34 starts.
Five of those seven victories have occurred during her current preparation which has taken in 12 races since August.
Shield will let the dust settle on Jadavi’s next target, but is hoping to extend her campaign in another feature country cup.
“I’ve spoken to the owner, Andy Reid, and he’s worried about the penalty she is going to get and the weight she will have to carry,” Shield said.
“We will just have to wait and see, but we just had a talk about the Albany Cup, maybe.
“It will depend on the handicapper and what happens.
“She’s done a pretty big job and Andy is keen to tip her out.
“But she is a seven-year-old mare and if you tip her out it will take four or five months to get her back to where she is again.
“It might be better going for the Albany Cup, but it all depends on the weight.”
Shield was quick to share the spoils of Jadavi’s win with Watson and Reid.
Following an Ascot double on Saturday, Watson steered home her maiden Listed winner.
Jadavi, a daughter of Coconut Grove, is named after Reid’s three children, Jackie, Danielle and Vinnie.
“She’s born and bred here and is a part of the family,” Shield said.
“Andy does a lot of work with her and even though he doesn’t seek the attention and is shy, he deserves a lot of the credit also.”
The Albany Cup is run over 2100m on April 17.