Vashka's Victory In Shannon

Vashka, always going well, took the Group Two Leonay Plumbing Shannon Stakes over an extended seven furlongs at Rosehill Gardens, Australia, on Saturday, September 26.

The five-year-old son of Exceed And Excel, trained by John O'Shea and ridden by Sam Clipperton, was smartly into stride and raced prominently on the outside.

He was settled in third, then second and loomed up to challenge the leader with a quarter-mile remaining.

Vashka was soon in front and ran on, holding the late charge of God's In Him by a short-neck at the line, gaining victory in 1m 29.25s on good ground.

John O'Shea said: "As Sam Clipperton said, 'Vashka was there to be beaten over the final 100 metres but he held on for a good tough win'.

"This was an outstanding effort by Vashka, he loves the 1,500 metres at Rosehill, got the good run and held them off."

Sam Clipperton added: "He was very impressive, this horse.

"Vashka hasn't had a chance of racing like he likes to race, in the sense of bowling along, until today.

"I was able to do that, not in leading as it would have taken too much work to get to the front but he settled OK outside the leader.

"He was there to be beaten in the last furlong but to his credit hung on well.

"He appreciated 1,500 metres and performs well on this track - I was very confident about his chance."