Colt becomes eighth winner for Shalaa
Arrowfield Stud shuttler Shalaa (Invincible Spirit) was handed his eighth first-crop winner on Thursday as Longlai (2 c ex Mojo Risin by Lope de Vega) prevailed in a close finish to break his maiden at the fourth time of asking in the Shadwell Novice Stakes (1m) at Salisbury.
The two-year-old colt showed a good attitude to come out on top of a battle up the straight with Golden Flame (Golden Horn), eventually beating him by a head, while Dickens (Excelebration) finished another five and a half lengths away in third.
Purchased by Saville Donald for €130,000 at the Arqana Deauville August Yearling Sale, the colt is out of the Listed-winning Lope De Vega (Shamardal) mare Mojo Risin, who was herself snapped up by Gilles Forien for €160,000 at the Arqana December Breeding Stock Sale when carrying the colt in utero.
The colt shares a page with Listed winner Palacoona (Last Tycoon), who in turn produced Grade 3 winner Diamond Tycoon (Johannesburg) and Listed scorer Cassique Lady (Langfuhr) and the dams of Japanese Grade 2 winner Cantabile (Deep Impact) and Grade 3 winner Kraslava (Lawyer Ron).
Shalaa's first European-bred crop also includes the stakes-placed Saeiqa who ran third in the Coventry Stakes (Gr 2, 6f) at Royal Ascot. He is standing his fourth season in Australia for an unchanged fee of $33,000 (inc GST) at Arrowfield Stud this spring.
Longlai (Shalaa) makes experience count in a good battle with old rival Golden Flame for @rhannonracing at @salisburyraces
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) September 3, 2020
Results & replays https://t.co/GI57hUtDeF pic.twitter.com/yukOc3No6U
