The History of the Bright Shadow Stakes

Friday, 3 July 2020

The Listed Bright Shadow Stakes at Eagle Farm on Saturday is named after one of Queensland’s greatest ever mares and it’s a safe bet no runner in the sprint will come close to matching her magnificent race record.

Bright Shadow won 17 races including the 1968 Queensland Oaks, the 1969 Tattersall’s Cup and the 1970 Tancred Stakes, now known as The BMW at the Sydney Autumn Carnival.

The Bright Shadow Stakes was introduced in 2006 as a fillies and mares sprint with set weights and penalties conditions as part of the Brisbane Racing Carnival.

The inaugural winner was La Montagna who some weeks later landed the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap.

Jim Byrne is the leading rider in the Bright Shadow with three victories – Strawberry Malt (2007), My First Affair (2009) and Bidii Babe (2017).

His mount this year is Victorian Persuader ($26) who finished fourth first up at Moonee Valley on June 13.