Ole Kirk filly Shraddha turned heads at her first 2YO trial and on Saturday at Randwick, she confirmed the hype with an impressive two-and-a-half-length victory in the Group 3 Gimcrack Stakes.

Trained by renowned juvenile conditioner Michael Freedman and ridden by Tommy Berry, the imposing filly showed plenty of professionalism on debut, settling behind the leaders before bursting through a gap at the 200m and powering clear of I’m Admired and fellow Vinery graduate and Exceedance filly She’s Supreme.

Freedman was full of praise for the performance.

“She’s a filly with a lot of talent. Good turn of foot. Her trial here Monday week back was great, because I don’t think it really suited her being out in front stargazing like she was.

“I said to Tommy (Berry) this morning, ‘if we can find a backside to follow, I reckon she’ll really let down quick’. I love the way she had to take that run too. For a first starter, it was pretty good.”

Berry was equally impressed with the filly’s attitude and ability.

“There wasn’t much of a gap there at the top of the straight but she put herself into it and won with authority. I know what she is like at home, she can do a left or right turn on you, so I think I grabbed hold of her late before she did it,” he said.

“When the opposition gets better she will get better. I know Michael has a lot of time for her so we might not see her for a while.”

A $250,000 purchase from the Vinery draft at the 2026 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Shraddha was purchased by Michael Freedman Racing and Andrew Williams Bloodstock.

The second foal of Fastnet Rock mare Spicy, Shraddha was bred by Ben Kwok, Vinery and Healey Bloodstock.

“Spicy was purchased in partnership with some great friends Ben Kwok and David Healy. Buying mares in partnership is something that we have been actively working on as part of business model and to enjoy breeding a very promising filly such as this with other partners makes it so much more enjoyable for everyone. Spicy’s first two foals by Ole Kirk have both won as juveniles including Shaddha’s terrific Group 3 triumph on the weekend so she has now set herself up to be a very valuable broodmare.” – Harry Roach, Vinery Bloodstock Manager

Two-year-old ability runs deep in her pedigree, with her grand-dam Paprika a Stakes-winning juvenile and runner-up in the Magic Millions 2YO Classic.

Shraddha becomes the eighth Stakes winner for Ole Kirk and his fifth two-year-old Stakes winner from his first three crops, further highlighting the sire’s growing influence with juveniles.

With another highly sought-after crop of yearlings ahead in 2027, Ole Kirk has enjoyed another season of strong support and stands at Vinery in 2026 for $110,000.