Tommy Shelby To Race On As Stud Journey Begins

PART-OWNER and trainer Steve Withers put last start Golden Easter Egg winner Tommy Shelby through a test at Cannington last week and he promptly reeled off a 29.35 personal best time.

It was also just a length and a half off the track record.

The son of Fernando Bale and Serena Fly High has not raced since beating Wow and Baroque Knight in the Egg at Wentworth Park on April 10.

In the meantime, Withers has been getting semen drawn from the dog for his planned stud career.

“We plan to blend both his race career and stud career over the next six months,” said Steve.

“With that in mind we had a semen analysis done a couple of weeks ago and then had a collection done after that.

“But just to make sure everything was still on track with his race career we took him to Cannington for a trial and the 29.35 showed us he is going great.”

Withers plans to draw the dog again this week and is looking at racing him next weekend at Cannington.

“The drawing of semen is uncharacteristic for him and we wanted to make sure there would be no problems with his racing which is why he had the trial,” said Steve.

“Now we want to give him a start to be certain.”

Immediate plans for Tommy Shelby centre around the Group 1 Harrison Dawson (515m) at Sandown on May 13 and 21 worth $100,000 to-the-winner.

His career stats stand at 44 starts for 29 wins and 11 placings with $1.007 million in stakes.

Withers has put a $2750 service fee on Tommy Shelby but says because of the limited number of straws available, it will be made available only to bitches on season.

“The stud scene is not our biggest concern at the moment,” said Steve. “He is not really on the open market yet.”

Withers plans to have semen collected from Tommy Shelby while he races interstate which will be stored in those states with the plan to build up a collection around the country.

“We'd like to have three or four straws in the states we visit,” he said.

The Group 1 Brisbane Cup (520m) at Albion Park in early July worth $250,000 to the winner is in the plans as well.

“We are very proud of what he has achieved,” said Steve. “We feel like a little team taking on the world. This dog is so good, he would be that good whoever trained him.”