Simply Shaz (NZ) Shows Staying Power in Group Two Success

Simply Shaz (NZ) (American Ideal) showed her superior staying power when impressively running to the biggest win of her career in the A$75,000 Group Two Empress Stakes (2536m) at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

The NZB Standardbred graduate was challenged in the lead several times during the mares’ feature but she staved off her rivals in an outstanding victory for trainer Trent Wheeler and driver Peter Anderson.

Simply Shaz was purchased for just $18,000 from the Breckon Farms draft at the 2019 National Yearling Sale at Karaka by Keith Ovens.
Ovens placed the horse with trainer Paul Kerr who developed her in New Zealand before her sale to a group of Australian owners.

Simply Shaz showed promise in New Zealand, running two seconds and lining up in the lucrative $150,000 NZB Standardbred Harness Million Three-Year-Old Fillies Final (1980m) in 2020.
The mare has gone on to compile an outstanding record since crossing the Tasman and produced her 14th career win when powering to victory in Friday night’s feature.

Simply Shaz did so after Trent Wheeler was determined to hold the lead from the time the mobile left. The pair were challenged several times in the running but Wheeler denied his rivals drivers from taking the front each time.Those tactics paid off when the talented mare ran to the best win of her career in the A$75,000 Empress Stakes.

Simply Shaz was bred and offered by Breckon Farms, who also sold her full brother Simply Sam (NZ) (American Ideal) at the 2020 National Yearling Sale at Karaka who was purchased by Lincoln Farms Bloodstock for $25,000. Simple Sam(NZ)  has competed successfully on both sides of the Tasman, winning six races.

Photo: Hamilton Content Creators