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Live sport on SN this weekendTaupō test awaits promising filly
Joshua Smith, LOVERACING.NZ News Desk • August 14th, 2026 1:56 pm
Shamelia Kirk will contest the Listed Chittick Family Fillies' Classic (1100m) at Taupō on Sunday | Photo: Peter Rubery (Race Images)
Taranaki filly Shamelia Kirk showed plenty as juvenile and trainer Robbie Patterson is hopeful she can bring that form into her three-year-old season, with her first test being the Listed Chittick Family Fillies’ Classic (1100m) at Taupō on Sunday.
The daughter of Shamexpress had three starts last season for a win and two seconds, including a runner-up performance behind Actionbelle in the Listed Castletown Stakes (1200m) at Otaki.
Patterson was pleased with her effort on the testing Heavy10 track and said she has thrived after being freshened, with her barrier being his only concern heading into Sunday.
“She is very well, she has done super since the Castletown,” Patterson said. “She had a little break after that and has come back and is looking great. Just the sticky draw (12) is the only problem on Sunday, and a good field.”
Further stakes targets await Shamelia Kirk, with the ultimate aim being the Gr.1 Barneswood Farm New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton in November if she indicates she can handle a mile.
“She will go two weeks into the Wanganui Guineas (Listed, 1200m) and then she will have another little break, and we will see whether she is up to going down to Christchurch or not, she will tell us,” Patterson said.
“The way she ran out the Castletown, it was a very testing track, and it looked like she was gone at the top of the straight and then she got going late, which suggested she will get over further, it’s just whether she gets a mile or not.”
Patterson will also be represented at Taupō by last start winner Jaeger, who will be fresh-up in the Group One Stallions @ Rich Hill 1400 after his pleasing trial at Foxton last week.
“He trialled up super, he has never looked better,” Patterson said. “He has taken a long time to mature and I am really happy with him going into this race. He gets in with a good weight with Gryllsy (Craig Grylls) on and I am expecting him to go well.”
A day prior, Patterson will have just the one runner at his home meeting at New Plymouth, in-form gelding Illustrious in the ITM Interprovincial Saturday 5th September 2026 (1400m).
The son of Eminent has won and finished runner-up in his two starts this preparation, and Patterson expects him to continue his purple patch of from this weekend.
“He has drawn 11 of 11 in the last race and Lemmy (Douglas) is back on the flat and gets two kilos off him,” Patterson said. “The horse has done nothing wrong this time in and I can’t see why he can’t go another good race. Him and Jaeger galloped at Hawera on Tuesday and galloped super together. I expect a bold run from him.”
Meanwhile, Patterson is excited about the spring ahead, for which he is building a strong arsenal.
A few of his stable’s leading lights trialled at Foxton last week, including Group One winner One Bold Cat, Group Two winner Ultimate Habit, and Group Two performer Belles Beau, and he is looking forward to them resuming in the coming month.
“Whether One Bold Cat is going to be matching weight-for-age level, time will tell this time around, but he is at the top of the weights in the handicaps so we are going to find nice handicaps for him probably and try and get a claim off him,” Patterson said.
“Ultimate Habit is going to kick-off a month away at Te Rapa in a 75 1400, and then she will go to the Taranaki Breeders’ (Gr.3, 1400m) and hopefully down to the TAB Mile (Gr.3, 1600m).
“Belles Beau will trial again on Tuesday and he will kick-off at Wanganui on the 29th, and he will tell us where he is going from there.”
Patterson is also excited about the prospects of three-year-old colt Ronaldo, with the Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton in November firmly in the crosshairs.
“Ronaldo is coming up super, he looks amazing,” Patterson said. “He is a big, strong colt now and he is definitely heading to Christchurch for the 2000 Guineas, and I am very excited about him this spring, he is a really exciting horse.
“He will head to Te Rapa at the end of September and he will have two runs into the 2000 Guineas.”
