Chris Waller’s bold decision to take on older mares with three-year-old Lady Shenandoah has paid off, with the filly becoming the first three-year-old in 16 years to win the Group One Coolmore Classic.

Rather than opting for the usual Group 2 Phar Lap Stakes (1500m), Waller chose the Coolmore Classic, feeling Lady Shenandoah deserved another big race opportunity after already securing two major wins against her own age group.

“I wasn’t that confident pre-race,” Waller admitted, citing Lady Shenandoah’s nervousness. “But we got away with it.”

James McDonald delivered a perfect ride, positioning Lady Shenandoah ($2.60) midfield from a wide draw. When asked to accelerate in the straight, she surged ahead, holding off stablemate Firestorm ($14) by a head, with Lady Of Camelot ($5) finishing third.

While Waller leaves the door open for another autumn run, he hinted that Lady Shenandoah may go to the paddock. “What else has she got to prove?” he said.

Waller now boasts three consecutive Coolmore Classic wins, following Espiona (2023) and Zougotcha (2024).

McDonald acknowledged the filly’s impressive performance, despite some concerns over her pre-race nerves. “She wasn’t entitled to win, but we were able to take a couple of minutes for her to breathe,” he said.