Any thoughts that the best of Lady Shenandoah was behind her has been shattered with the Chris Waller-trained mare winning her second Group 1 win in two weeks.
After returning to winning form in the Group 1 Toorak Handicap (1600m) at Caulfield two weeks ago, Lady Shenandoah added another Group 1 win to her tally claiming the Empire Rose Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on Saturday.
It was Lady Shenandoah’s fifth Group 1 from her seven overall wins from 19 starts.
Sent out the $1.85 favourite under James Mcdonald, Lady Shenandoah scored a 1-½ length win from Concord Connie ($6.50) with Idle Flyer ($18) a further 1-¾ lengths away third.
Lady Shenandoah gave Chris Waller a second Group 1 success on Victoria Derby Day after he, and McDonald, combined to win the feature race with Stormy Marco.
It’s a G1 double for @cwallerracing, @mcacajamez and Hermitage! ♥️💚
Only 40 minutes after STORMY MARCO won the G1 Victoria Derby, their superstar mare LADY SHENANDOAH won her fifth G1 title in the Empire Rose Stakes! 🔥 https://t.co/btawAGrjOH
— World Horse Racing (@WHR) October 31, 2026
Charlie Duckworth, representing the Waller stable, said the stable had never lost faith in Lady Shenandoah despite her being winless in a number of starts prior to her Toorak success.
“You could have easily written her off prior to last start,” Duckworth said.
“She had been running well but just wasn’t winning.
“She was running in the hardest of hard races, from Everest’s to running against Autumn Glow and it’s not easy territory that she was in.
“It shows how competitive these Group 1 races are and prior to today she had won four Group 1’s and $5 million and two weeks and a day ago, you would have said, is she really having a crack if you were outside the camp.
“These races are so special to owners, to punters, to us.
“I know we all bang on about the money, and the money is great with these big prize money races, but you win a Derby, they are different.”
McDonald said Lady Shenandoah gave him an armchair ride.
“The only worrying part was that she jumped out so well and she wanted to get on with the job,” McDonald said.
“I had to give her just ‘a, hey, come back quickly’ instead of running through the bridle, but it was the only worrying part of the whole race.
“It’s hard with Autumn Glow around the same sort of trip and Autumn Glow’s got her measure, but she’s just so honest, always races to a high level.
“You know what you’re going to get with her is a solid performance.
“You’d love to own her and I love riding her.”
The race was marred by a fall on the home turn when Pondalowie crashed, sending Harry Coffey to the turf.
Pondalowie regained her feet and cantered off, while Coffey walked to the medical team.
After being assessed, Coffey was transported to the Royal Melbourne Hospital with a suspected fractured collarbone.
Coffey had been booked to ride Shockletz in the Melbourne Cup on Tuesday.
