Shirshov equalled Sisstar's 955-metre track record of 54.45 seconds last start
Shirshov going for history in the Ladbrokes 55 Second Challenge
In the final year of racing at The Valley in its current format, the Phillip Stokes trained Shirshov will be aiming to become the first horse ever to win the Ladbrokes 55 Second Challenge twice, while also making it back-to-back successes in the series.
Last season Shirshov ran a winning time of 54.84 seconds in Heat 1 on Grand Final Eve, and this season he remarkably equaled Sisstar’s track record in Heat 14, stopping the clock at 54.45 seconds two weeks ago.
However, Stokes will need to wait until Friday night to find out whether the $55,000 trainer prize for the fastest time is his to savour, a nervous wait given the speed that is likely to be injected into the final with 8 of the fastest course and distance specialists accepting on Wednesday.
Among them is the current clubhouse leader Shirshov, and Stokes says the stable will be treating it just like any other race.
“The horse is going very well. Breaking the track record a few weeks ago was fantastic,” Stokes told us.
“It was a night where a few track records were broken, so I’m not sure how it will be this week.”
Shirshov was trained by Julien Welsh when he won the Ladbrokes 55 Second Challenge last year, but recently changed stables to Phillip Stokes, equaling the track record in his first start under the Pakenham-based trainer.
Stokes is currently 9th in the Victorian Metro Trainer Premiership this season with 15 wins to his name and says despite the $55,000 carrot being attached to the series, will be treating this race just like any other.
“Nothing really changes from our end. We’ll just go out there and try to win the race.
“The money will be going back into the business if we are to win it, I won’t see any of it myself.”
Shirshov has drawn barrier 6 of 8 in his attempt to defend his crown in the Ladbrokes 55 Second Challenge, and even if he’s not to win on Friday night, the Stokes camp will just be hoping they aren’t able to beat the 54.45 second benchmark.
In Season 2020/21, Tony & Calvin McEvoy led the Ladbrokes 55 Second Challenge with Meteorite all season, who ran a time of 54.54 seconds in Heat 2, and then beat their own time when the full sister of Sunlight, Sisstar, broke the track record in the final – 54.45.