Shiver In The Dark scores maiden win

Shiver In The Dark (Rock N Roll Heaven) continued the wonderful record the Shirley family has had with this family.

Bred by Raewyn Shirley, the three year old gelding is trained by Brent and raced by their son George.

Shiver In The Dark is named after a line in the Dire Straits song Sultans of Swing and is out of I Smart which won six races. At stud her best foal  date has been Euro Beat which qualified for Shirley and was sold to Australia where he won twelve races.

When the gate pulled away in yesterday’s race, driver Mark Hurrell cruised out and took the lead. At the 400 Hurrell let Shiver In The Dark roll and he soon put four lengths on the chasing bunch. He went down to the line to beat by two lengths High Return who charged home late, with Cash Is King a nose back in third.

SHIVER IN THE DARK REPLAY

“He so thick and doesn’t know his own ability yet. Once the penny drops I think he’s a wee bit better than average,” Brent said.

Shirley is starting to build up a racing team again after taking a break from the sport and working for crayfisher Neville Cleaver.

“I really enjoyed being five years at sea with him. It was a good change for me.”

Nineteen year old George wasn’t on track yesterday. He’s currently entertaining on a cruise ship in the Virgin Island between Porta Rico and Barbados.

“He’s having a couple of years doing that. He’s just spent a year over on the Gold Coast acting and singing.”

For complete race results, click here.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink