Lacking competitive racing fitness and saddled with an impost of 58.5kgs, conceding her thirteen rivals up to 5.5kgs, the odds of 20/1 about the multiple Grade 1 winning mare Hoeberg (NZ) (Maroof x Petrava) were an accurate barometer of her prospects of taking major honours in the $140,000 Group 2 Shannon Stakes run at the picturesque Rosehill Gardens, Sydney over 1500 metres on Saturday 21 September 2002. In allotting her top mass, the Handicapper was obviously not taking any chances, mindful of her record of ten victories to date and her third place in the Group 1 Dubai Duty Free, the identical position to that occupied twelve months earlier by the World's best racemare, Sunline (NZ) (Desert Sun x Songline). Trainer David Payne, was running out of options and time in Hoeberg (NZ)'s preparatory campaign to compete at the highest level this Spring. After competing in the Group 2 WFA Warwick Stakes over 1400 metres on 21 August, Hoeberg (NZ) was on track with her programme, with her next engagement identified as the Group 2 Chelmsford Stakes two weeks later. However as time of final acceptance approached, she was setback with a bout of colic, that saw her miserable and uncomfortable for four days and out of work for a week.

Circumstances and timings had conspired against Hoeberg (NZ) and Payne, and in the ensuing two weeks, he managed to progress her fitness to ensure that she would compete creditably in the Shannon Stakes. Jockey Danny Beasley was instructed to sit behind the speed, preferably in third or fourth position. Hoeberg (NZ), as she had done on her Australian debut, wasted no time in bounding out of the barrier and immediately led, as she crossed from her no. 4 berth onto the running rail to dictate the pace. After 150 metres, under restraint from Beasley, he intentionally relegated Hoeberg to third, who was travelling well within herself. The order remained unchanged as the field swept right handed (similar to Greyville - all racetracks in New South Wales turn right and all are without a false rail). With 400 metres to run, Beasley switched Hoeberg from the rail and she immediately accelerated and advanced into second position, challenging for the lead. In a matter of strides, Hoeberg was alongside the pacemaker Roman Arch (53 kgs), then marginally ahead, as challengers zoomed in from behind, dominated by those possessed of sprinting ability. Hoeberg held a slender lead 200 metres out, as the 5/2 favourite Gordo (Brief Truce x Spirit x Danehill) (56 kgs) unleashed his customary assault from the rear, down the centre of the track, to outsprint his rivals to win fluently, in the process registering a hat-trick of wins. Predictably, Hoeberg became anchored by her burden of 58.5kgs. She again finished in sixth position, beaten a fraction under four lengths. First, third and fourth in the race carried the silks of Woodlands Stud Syndicate, owned by Messrs Jack and Bob Ingham (of Ingham Chickens fame), who race the largest string of horses in the southern hemisphere, possibly second in the world to Godolphin/Sheikh Mohammed

Given that the conditions were near perfect, and considering that the first 900 metres were traversed in a relatively sedate 55.73 seconds, the overall time for 1500 metres was a respectable 1 minute 29.7 seconds. The sectional time from 600 metres to finish of 33.97 seconds illustrates how appreciably the tempo increased amd represented the fastest sprint of the four Group 2 races on the programme. Hoeberg clocked a smart 34.4 seconds for the final 600 metres.

Danny Beasley was impressed with Hoeberg's effort. This is what he said in a post race TV interview : "Hoeberg ran terrifically to be right up in the race. She came to the end of her run slightly but this was to be expected - she missed a bit of work and it's all go from here. David (Payne)'s doing a great job with her; she looked terrific and she'll improve off the run and is not without a hope in the Epsom". David Payne was absolutely delighted : "she had a significant setback in her preparation and is expected to make good improvement leading up to the $560,000 Group 1 Epsom Handicap in a fortnight, where she has been allotted 54kgs".

Thereafter, Hoeberg (NZ) will be aimed at the $3 million (circa R18 million) Group 1 Cox Plate to be run over 2040 metres at Moonee Valley, Melbourne on 26 October. There are 76 first acceptors, including the Godolphin owned Grandera (IRE) (Grand Lodge x Bordighera) (58kgs), Northerly (58kgs) and Sunline (NZ) (55.5kgs). Hoeberg (NZ) will carry the same mass as Sunline (NZ). 

POSTSCRIPT : Hoeberg was found to be lame on Sunday morning. David Payne is having her thoroughly examined to establish the cause.