Zarak's Shagara Prevails In Winterkonigin Thriller

Just a head separated Shagara (Ire) (Zarak {Fr}–She Bang {Fr}, by Monsun {Ger}) and Lady Mary (Ger) (Lawman {Fr}) when they ran second and third in last month's Listed Winterkonigin-Trial at Cologne, and it was a case of as you were as the pair fought out an exciting finish to Sunday's G3 BBAG Preis der Winterkonigin at Baden-Baden. Shagara had earlier defeated the reopposing New York City (Ger) (Sea The Moon {Ger}) over seven furlongs in her Aug. 19 debut at Mulheim and that rival provided an added boost to the form by finishing on the podium in this one-mile test.

The eventual winner, sent postward as the crowd's 13-5 pick, raced in mid division during the opening exchanges and went through halfway in fifth. Bustled along rounding the home turn, Shagara made relentless headway in the straight to take a share of third entering the final furlong–where she received a hefty bump from Lady Mary–and kept on strongly under continued rousting to deny that rival by a head on the line for a career high. New York City held a slender advantage inside the furlong pole, but was usurped in the closing stages and finished 1 1/2 lengths adrift in third.

“She has the heart of a lion and fought incredibly hard,” said winning rider Andrasch Starke. “She was really strong at the finish and what a racehorse she is.” Trainer Markus Klug added, “It's crazy what a fighter's heart Shagara has. She put in so much effort to win and now she will take her well-deserved winter break.” Gestut Schlenderhan's general manager Gebhard Apelt continued, “She wasn't in the best position at first and it is very rare to see a 2-year-old fight like that.”

Pedigree Notes
Shagara, who becomes the 12th pattern-race winner for her sire, is the sixth of seven foals and one of five scorers produced by a winning sibling of Listed Hannover Derby-Trial runner-up Sargas (Ire) (Shirocco {Ger}). Her second dam, Listed Henkel-Trial victrix Servenya (Ger) (Dashing Blade {GB}), is a full-sister to G2 Maurice Lacroix-Trophy runner-up Slawomira (Ger) and a half to Listed Preis der Hotellerie Baden-Baden victor Skythe (Ger) (Spectrum {Ire}) and the stakes-placed duo Stoikov (Ger) (Platini {Ger}) and Salomea (Ire) (Monsun {Ger}). Servenya is also kin to the dam of this race's 2004 winner Sorrent (Ger) (Monsun {Ger}). The March-foaled homebred bay is a half-sister to G2 Union-Rennen third Sky Out (Ire) (Adlerflug {Ger}) and a weanling colt by Ito (Ger) named Shejtan (Ire).

BBAG – Preis der Winterkönigin (G3)
1.600 m – 155.000 EUR – for 2yo fillies
Baden – Baden

Shagara (IRE)
( Zarak – She Bang , by Monsun)
J : Andrasch Starke
T :Markus Klug
O :Gestüt Schlenderhan
Lady Mary (Lawman)
New York City (Sea The Moon) pic.twitter.com/9AD9ised7N

— (@WorldRacing1) October 15, 2023

Sunday, Baden-Baden, Germany
BBAG – PREIS DER WINTERKONIGIN-G3, €155,000, Baden-Baden, 10-15, 2yo, f, 8fT, 1:42.22, g/s.
1–SHAGARA (IRE), 128, f, 2, by Zarak (Fr)
1st Dam: She Bang (Fr), by Monsun (Ger)
2nd Dam: Servenya (Ger), by Dashing Blade (GB)
3rd Dam: Slawa (Ger), by Polish Precedent
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. O/B-Gestut Schlenderhan (IRE); T-Markus Klug; J-Andrasch Starke. €85,000. Lifetime Record: 3-2-1-0, €95,400. *1/2 to Sky Out (Ire) (Adlerflug {Ger}), GSP-Ger. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Lady Mary (Ger), 128, f, 2, Lawman (Fr)–La Reine Noir (Ger), by Rainbow Quest). 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. O/B-Graf & Grafin von Stauffenberg (GER); T-Andreas Suborics. €31,000.
3–New York City (Ger), 128, f, 2, Sea The Moon (Ger)–Nouvelle Neige (Ger), by Big Shuffle. 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. O/B-Gestut Ebbesloh (GER); T-Sarah Steinberg. €20,500.
Margins: HD, 1HF, 1 1/4. Odds: 2.60, 4.20, 6.60.
Also Ran: Words Of Peace (Ger), Saman (Ger), Princess Valentina (Ger), Anna Riva (Ger), Linzona (Ger), Princesa (Ger), Go Quick (Ger).