Short course specialist happy to be home

Iffraaj’s speedy daughter Short Shorts acquitted herself well during her time in Australia and has returned home to further boost her future broodmare value.

Bred and raced by Mark Fraser-Campin and brother Chris under their Chequers Stud banner, the six-year-old won six races up to 1400m during her time with Hawkesbury trainer Brad Widdup.

She emphasised her quality when finishing runner-up on her then home track in the Gr.3 Hawkesbury Crown (1300m) and ran third in the Gr.3 Dark Jewel Classic (1300m) at Scone.

“She obviously showed a fair bit of speed and did very well. She was a bit unlucky in both her Group placings,” said Fraser-Campin, who is now training Short Shorts.

“Brad encouraged me to bring her home, he was patient with her and she’s 100 percent sound.

“She doesn’t like wet tracks and the prizemoney here is so good and easier to get black type than in Sydney. We’re paddock training her Kiwi style and she’s thriving on it.”

Short Shorts had showed ability early on when initially in work with Fraser-Campin and a unique set of circumstances resulted in her crossing the Tasman as an unraced three-year-old.

“I had jumped her out and we were going into our second lockdown at Cambridge and the racing and trials were being put off and they were still racing in Sydney,” he said.

“I rang Brad, who is a long-time friend, and said I’ve got this filly who I think goes well and it could be three months before I can trial her, so we put her on a plane.”

After her successful Australian venture netted nearly $500,000 in earnings, Short Shorts was given her first outing at the Matamata trials on Tuesday and showed her customary pace to lead all the way over 1000m with rider Sam Spratt sitting quietly in the saddle.

“I nearly didn’t trial her because of the heavy track, but the timing was good,” Fraser-Campin said.

“It will be a month before she runs, and she has won first-up a few times, and she’s pulled up well.”

Short Shorts is likely to kick off in the Listed Legacy Lodge Sprint (1200m) at Te Rapa on November 9, with the Gr.2 Dunstan Feeds Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1400m) at Pukekohe a fortnight later.

Longer term, the Gr.2 Westbury Classic (1400m) at Ellerslie on January 25 is another attractive target for the mare.

Short Shorts is a daughter of the late Green Perfume mare Jabot, a half-sister to the Gr.1 New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m) winner Zirna who left the Gr.3 Adrian Knox Stakes (2000m) winner Crafty Irna.

Photo: Bradley Photos