Thoughts on Shamiana tomorrow

Shamiana runs in the 2.00 at Southwell tomorrow (January 20th). Joe Fanning takes the ride in the 1 mile handicap. Shamiana had a pretty consistent profile on the all weather last season and looked as if she was sure to pick up a little race at some point.  However, she has struggled this year despite seeming to be in as good if not better form at home. It may be to do with the surface at Wolverhampton which has changed to Tapeta from a deep polytrack with extra sand is not to her liking. There is an excellent study by Simon Rowlands of Timeform highlighting the correlation of form between the different tracks. Shamiana seemed to enjoy the old surface there and turned in respectable efforts at Southwell (bar her last start there when she had another excuse). With that in mind we hope she shows better form back on the Fibresand as otherwise we are running out of options for her. We’ve dropped the headgear, really just to see if it sparks a bit more life into the mare.

The race appears to revolve around the once again rejuvenated General Tufto who has won his last two starts, his victory last week looking highly improbable for most of the race. The admirable veteran has own way of doing things but after 150 starts and seems to run well when the mood takes him. If he turns up in the same mood as recently he should win this. Most of the rest of the field have a bit to prove at present and perhaps With Hindsight who ran a reasonable race last time and ran well enough on his sole start at the course a couple of years ago would be the next threat.