Shima Shadow Drawn To Order In Hugh Emmerson

GEORGE Dailly believes the talented Shima Shadow is drawn perfectly in the $10,000 Hugh Emmerson Memorial Final (460m) at Geelong on Friday night.

Despite a tardy getaway in his heat – his 6.83 first split was the second slowest of all finalists – Shima Shadow showed a devastating combination of mid-race speed and strength to the line to win by 3 1/2 lengths and record the fastest time of the night in 25.63.

FIELDS AND FORM GEELONG FRIDAY NIGHT

After overcoming box five in the heat, Dailly believes box eight will present Shima Shadow a clear run that will allow him to show his best.

“He's a touch slow early, but if he gets a clear run early he'll give it a shake,” said Dailly.

“If he had some early toe he could go anywhere in Australia and be competitive, but because of his lack of early speed it limits what we can do with the dog.

“He needs a clear run – if he draws in the middle of the field, nine times out of 10 he's in a touch of trouble and needs luck to get through them. But that's life, he just lack early toe and it causes him trouble that's all.

This ‘Shima' is shining

SHIMA SHADOW displayed terrific determination from an outside draw and recorded a great victory in sizzling time at Geelong.

SHIMA SHADOW improved his strike rate to eight wins and three minor placings from 17 starts.#GreyhoundRacing pic.twitter.com/Ebr0hQ81xI

— WatchDog Racing (@WatchDogRacing) July 7, 2023

“Two out he can compete against anything. But we all know that when you race against the good dogs if you don't have a great deal of early speed you're in trouble.”

Shima Shadow will be joined in the final by litter brother Shima Dream and Dailly is expecting a good run from him as well after drawing box two.

“He's a nice dog as well. He's behind (Shima) Shadow –  they've had a bit of racing but they're still both learning. He's slow out like the Shadow but he can run so it won't surprise me if he goes well as well. The draw will probably suit him, but it will just depend on whether they knock him over. But the other dog is drawn beautifully.”

The litter brothers are owned in part by David Gleeson and Bob Cummings who also raced dual group 1 winner Shima Shine, now standing at stud with Dailly.

Shima Shine has already risen to 26 on the national sires' standings despite his oldest progeny yet to reach 30 months of age, and Dailly believes it is only a matter of time before the Barcia Bale x Shima Song superstar product produces his first group race performer.

“He's at the stage now where everyone is waiting to see if he produces a real good dog, a top class group 1 dog. He hasn't produced one yet but he's producing plenty of good dogs that can run,” Dailly added.

SHIMA SHINE AT STUD

“I'm getting a call every day or two for him, but he only has to produce one real good one and it'll ring off the hook. He's worth using – there's not many dogs that go to stud holding four track records and are bred like him.

“His broodbitch line goes back to (group 1 winning stayer) Shimaguni so they've got strength. If you're aiming to win in town you won't have a problem with them running the 500m.”

Dailly has a number of Shima Shine litters on the ground and is excited by what he sees.

“We have a few racing soon and a couple more litters ready to go soon. They're superb looking pups and they're doing everything right.”

The Hugh Emerson Memorial is race eight at 9.44pm.