Keeping it in the family

Waikato Stud's regally-bred filly Indulge started to live up to her star-studded family by getting her maiden win on the board at Geelong today.

The three-year-old's mother is Group 1 placegetter and Group 3 winner Splashing Out and she is the fourth runner and winner from the mare.

All four progeny to race are by Pins with the fillies' Shopaholic and Spending achieving black-type during their careers.

Trainer Danny O'Brien, who trained both fillies and the dam, was thrilled to get today's result for the Chittick family.

"Mark and Garry Chittick have been some of my biggest supporters throughout my career and its great to continue the legacy of one of their great bloodlines. A Waikato Stud bred and raced mare, by a Waikato Stud stallion. It's a great story," O'Brien said.

"Splashing Out was a wonderful horse for me and I take great pride that she has continued her career by leaving some wonderful racehorses, it's just a pity that she isn't still with us and producing high quality racehorses."

Indulge took up the running in the 1300m maiden and kicked clear at the top of the straight before holding on for the victory for Irish apprentice Kieran Shoemark.

"It wasn't the plan to lead but she jumped so well I had no option but to take it up, so her win was full of merit," Shoemark said.

"She will learn from that and I would expect that she will better when she has something to chase."

The win gave Andrew Balding's apprentice his 9th win of his loan period and he is hoping to push past the mark of 13 set by his good friend Oisin Murphy, who spent nine weeks in Australia last summer.

"Oisin is always ribbing me about his ability, so I would love to get one up on him if I can," said Shoemark, who completes his stint here after Saturday's week's Flemington meeting.

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