Hats off to Hood at Canberra

Jumping away well from the gates and mustering plenty of early speed, Shamardal gelding Hood went straight to the lead, controlling the race from that point on.

As the field rounded the home turn, jockey Blake Shinn still had not gone for the talented gelding, allowing him to skip away under his own steam. Holding off the late charge of local galloper Onethelookout, Hood went on to score by one-and-a-quarter lengths in the Listed National Sprint over 7f on March 11.

Bred by Mr Sandy Tait and out of the G1 Thousand Guineas winner Whisked, Hood is a half-brother to Champion 13-time G1 winner Tie The Knot. Whisked has an unnamed two-year-old filly by Darley Australia stallion Strategic.

The sire of 34 international Stakes winners including G1 winners Lope de Vega, Casamento, Faint Perfume, Captain Sonador and Zazou, Shamardal is standing the current breeding season at Kildangan Stud in Ireland for €50,000.