Shalaa Colt Makes an Exciting Debut

Mark Smith - Wednesday September 15

Backed to the exclusion of everything else in the race, the regally-bred Shalaa (IRE) colt Mornington Glory made a winning career debut over 1100m at Bendigo on Wednesday.

Mornington Glory makes a winning debut, Brett Holburt/Racing Photos

Ridden by Luke Currie for trainer Matt Laurie, Mornington Glory raced outside of Snappy Li'l Thing with the pair setting very pedestrian sectionals in the small field.

Mornington Glory looked to struggling to shake off Snappy Li'l Thing at the top of the straight, but with a tap of the whip to keep his mind on the job, Mornington Glory came clear in the closing stages.

The son of Shalaa (IRE) defeated the 4yo Star Witness gelding Foturi by three and three-quarter lengths with 3yo Magnus gelding Spirit Of Pepin a nose back in third.

Laurie has ambitious plans for the winner.

&quo

t;It's a relief. The best winners are the long-priced ones because you don't expect them," Laurie said.

"I've had a big opinion of this horse from the beginning, so it was nice to see him kick off in good fashion.

"He will be better with horses going quicker in front of him, so he can settle off.

Advertisement

"A couple of taps with the stick, and he really put it together late. He will improve a hell of a lot from today.

"I would like to run him in the Danehill (Stakes), and depending on how he goes in that, the Coolmore (Stud Stakes)."

Mornington Glory a $360,000 purchase at the Eduardo Cojuangco dispersal

Bred by Gooree Stud, Mornington Glory was a $360,000 purchase for Matt Laurie Racing/Bahen Bloodstock/Andrew Williams Bloodstock from the Estate of Eduardo Cojuangco at the Magic Millions in 2020.

A half-brother to Group 1 ATC Golden Rose Stakes and Group 1 Royal Randwick Guineas winner Hallowed Crown and Group III ATC Carbine Club Stakes winner Needs Further, both successful stallions, Mornington Glory is the final foal of Crowned Glory.

The daughter of Danehill won the Group III VRC Bloodhorse Breeders' Stakes and was runner-up to Belle du Jour in a dramatic Group 1 Golden Slipper in a 7-start career.

The Gooree Stud homebred had eleven colts, with no fillies to continue the line, before her retirement in June last year.

Crowned Glory's dam Significant Moment (Bletchingly) is a half-sister to a pair of Group 1 Australian Guineas winners, the great stallion Zabeel and Baryshnikov.

Shalaa’s return to Arrowfield Stud was perfectly timed with his daughter No Speak Alexander (IRE) earning Group 1 honours in the Leopardstown Matron Stakes.  

Advertisment

Race Result - Bendigo Mazda Mdn Plate 1100m

Bendigo Track: Good(4) Time: 1:05.02
1
Mornington Glory
- 3c Shalaa (IRE) x Crowned Glory (AUS) (Danehill (USA))
Tnr: M M Laurie Rdr: L Currie 57
2
3.8
Foturi
- 4g Star Witness (AUS) x Sayahailmary (AUS) (Keep The Faith (AUS))
Tnr: M, W & J Hawkes Rdr: Fred W Kersley 59.5
3
3.9
Spirit Of Pepin
- 3g Magnus (AUS) x Amaudru (AUS) (King Charlemagne (USA))
Tnr: R Griffiths & M De Kock Rdr: Alana Kelly 57
4
4.2
Snappy Li'l Thing
- 4m Bel Esprit (AUS) x Over The Page (AUS) (Danachenka (AUS))
Tnr: Ms D Chapman Rdr: C Newitt 57.5
5
4.7
Magic City
- 4g Magic Albert (AUS) x Townie (AUS) (Encosta De Lago (AUS))
Tnr: Henry Dwyer Rdr: Ben Allen 59.5
6
8.7
Central Bay
- 5g Kaphero (AUS) x Acid Storm (AUS) (God's Own (AUS))
Tnr: K F Watson Rdr: W Gordon 59.5
7
11.5
The Last Western
- 4g King Of Prussia (AUS) x Western Mist (AUS) (Rustic Amber (IRE))
Tnr: Ms E Haworth Rdr: Tahlia Hope 59.5
More Reading...
VRC Oaks contender headlines November (Early) Online Sale
An exciting opportunity is presented in the Inglis Digital November (Early) Online Sale next week when a share in a runner bound for Thursday’s $1m G1 VRC Oaks is offered.
Go Racing Hoping for Big Day at Randwick
New Zealand syndicator Go Racing will be out to plunder the riches on offer at Randwick on Saturday, with their silks to be represented in two of the meeting’s key races.
Mornington Glory Scales the Heights in Gr1 Moir Stakes
On a day that had been playing to the swoopers, the race fit Mornington Glory made all the running in the $750,000 Group 1 Charter Keck Cramer Moir Stakes (1000m) at Moonee Valley to credit Woodside Park Stud's Shalaa IRE) with his second Group 1 winner and first in Australia.
Juvenile Trial Watch – Warwick Farm
Four heats for juveniles run at Warwick Farm on Friday and we saw winners by Trapeze Artist, Tassort, Exceed and Excel and first season sire Wild Ruler, while from a pedigree perspective a Godolphin filly that ran second was the obvious highlight.
Breeding To Win - 2025 G1 VRC Coolmore Stud Stakes
Derby Day! It's the race day for purists, when the biggest and best pedigrees tend to be on show, and their merits are tested over all distances.
Tabitha Ridley-Thomas Joins Magic Millions Bloodstock Team
Australia's leading thoroughbred auctioneer Magic Millions has boosted it's impressive Bloodstock Team with news Tabitha Ridley-Thomas has this week joined the company.
Sires With Winners - Thursday October 30
Here is the full list of 30 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
First Foal of Melody Belle a Winner!
Two time NZ Horse of the Year and a 14-time G1 winner, Melody Belle was a big ticket purchase for Yulong at the 2021 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale when  they paid $2.6million for the daughter of Commands and she produced her first winner for them at Cranbourne on Friday night.
Shalaa's Mornington Glory Eyes Off Moir Stakes
Third in the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate in February, the 6-year-old Shalla (IRE) gelding Mornington Glory showed his love for the track and distance with a maiden stakes success in Saturday’s Paramount Liquor Carlyon Stakes (1000m) at Moonee Valley.
MRC locks in leadership as Tanya Fullarton named CEO and Jonathan Munz joins as Vice Chairman
The Melbourne Racing Club (MRC) has confirmed two major leadership appointments, naming Tanya Fullarton as Chief Executive Officer and leading business person, owner, and breeder Jonathan Munz as Vice Chairman.