(Invincible Spirit-Ghurra, by War Chant)
Stands 2017 at Arrowfield Stud, NSW, for $33,000
A champion 2YO son of Invincible Spirit with speed to burn – that’s a profile tailormade for Australian breeders and it belongs to Shalaa.
Shalaa made his mark on the 2015 European season with five consecutive 1200-metre victories, ending with Group 1 success in Europe’s premier 2YO sprinting tests, bursting clear of his rivals in the Deauville Prix Morny G1 and making all in the Newmarket Middle Park S. G1.
Those performances ultimately cemented Shalaa’s status as Champion 2YO Colt in Great Britain and France. Timeform was suitably impressed, rating Shalaa at 123+ in July 2015, and declaring him the best two-year-old in the world at that time.
Jockey Frankie Dettori said after Shalaa’s Middle Park win, "He's got tremendous speed and he is the fastest two-year-old I've ridden. I haven't met a horse fast enough to lead him."
His champion trainer John Gosden echoed Dettori’s assessment. “He's very, very fast - the fastest two-year-old I've trained. He has so much speed and has that sprinter's build, so he reminds us all of Oasis Dream…He’s of that mould."
Shalaa has been warmly welcomed in France at owner Al Shaqab's Haras de Bouquetot, where he’s served a book of around 170 mares, among them World Champion and dual Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winner Treve. His first book in Australia includes Arrowfield’s own champion mare and Group 1 producer Miss Finland.
Shalaa is a son of the remarkable success story Invincible Spirit, who now commands a €120,000 (~$175,000) fee at The Irish National Stud. His 100 stakeswinners include European Horse of the Year Kingman, Champion European Sprinter Moonlight Cloud, multiple Australian Group 1 winner Yosei and I Am Invincible, sire of Magic Millions Classic heroine Houtzen among his 11 stakeswinners in 2016/17.
Bred in Ireland by Mogeely Stud, Shalaa is from a female family noted for speed and a host of quality 2YO performers, most recently including Group 2 winners Dragon Pulse & Lewis Bay, Listed winner Mind Of Madness and Shalaa himself. Shalaa’s dam Ghurra (by War Chant), half-sister to a Group 1-winning 2YO and five other stakes performers, won at two in England and was subsequently Grade 3-placed in the United States. Three of her four foals to race are winners and she has a 2015 filly by High Chaparral.
Shalaa descends from the celebrated English matriarch Marchetta, also ancestress of important sires Turn-to, My Babu, Klairon & Agricola, and Classic winners Altesse Royale, Bustino, Festoon, Larkspur & Nocturnal Spree.
*All data courtesy Arion Pedigrees
