Shaquille made it three wins from four starts for Julie Camacho with a comprehensive victory in the It’s Time To Turn To talkSPORT Novice Stakes at Wolverhampton this evening.
The six-furlong contest was a Fast-Track Qualifier and Shaquille now has the opportunity to emulate last year’s winner El Caballo, who went on to capture the £150,000 All-Weather Three-Year-Old Championships on Finals Day.
Sent off the 2/1 favourite following a novice victory at York in October, Shaquille was well placed behind front-runner Looking For Lynda in the early stages, with the eight runners well strung out.
Looking For Lynda moved off the rail on the home turn and Shaquille took full advantage once shaken up by Graham Lee, quickening into a clear lead at the furlong pole.
Harry Magnus, in receipt of 9lb from the winner, emerged as the main danger but Shaquille was in command at the finish to score by a length. There was another length and a quarter back to Tenjin in third.
Camacho’s husband and assistant Steve Brown said: “We wanted to run Shaquille once more this year and now we have an option for him in the spring.
“He will have a rest now and we will let him develop. He is a big, strong colt and quite a handful. Paige, who looks after him, does really well with him at home.
“He obviously has a good level of ability and I thought it was a lovely ride from Graham. We are thrilled.
“His part owner-breeder Martin Hughes will be so excited and thinks he might get a mile. Because he has been quite keen in his races, we are sprinting for now, but hopefully in time he will get a touch further.”