Shangri La Express Makes It Two from Two for Alabama Express

Mark Smith - Saturday October 21

In what has been a memorable week for Yulong Stud, Shangri La Express became the second winner from as many runners for the first season stallion Alabama Express when leading at every call in the James Squire Kirkham Plate (1000m) at Randwick.

Shangri La Express makes impressive debut (image Steve Hart)

Ridden by Regan Bayliss for Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, Shangri La Express was given a good rev-up early to take up the running. The solidly backed favourite showed no signs of weakening down the straight to defeat the Microphone debutant Miss Judas by two and a half lengths with a further two and a quarter length back to the Blue Point colt Blue Illusion in third in a first season stallion trifecta.

Shangri La Express is the second winner for Yulong Stud’s Group 1 MRC CF Orr Stakes winner Alabama Express after the Richard and Chantelle Jolly trained Karavas saluted on debut at Murray Bridge on October 7.

Yulong Stud celebrated stakes success with another first-season stallion, Pierata, when Coleman captured last Wednesday’s Listed MRC Debutant Stakes at Caulfield.

Shangri La Express was a $220,000 purchase for Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott Racing/Kestrel Thoroughbreds from the Yulong draft at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.

Advertisement

He is the second foal and first runner for the winning Lonhro mare Sent From Above, a daughter of Gooree Stud’s Group III MRC Thoroughbred Club Stakes and Group III STC Birthday Card Stakes winner Gamble Me (Rock Of Gibraltar).

Yulong purchased Sent From Above for $125,000 from the Gooree Park Stud draft at the 2020 Inglis Australian Broodmare Sale.

Shangri La Express a $220,000 Magic Millions yearling

After foaling a Written Tycoon colt last spring, Sent from Above revisited Alabama Success.

Alabama Success came within inches of making it three from three when Accelar fell a nose short of leading all the way over 1000m at Eagle Farm.

Advertisment

Race Result - James Squire Kirkham Plate 1000m

Randwick Track: Good(4) Time: 0:58.26
1
Shangri La Express
- 2c Alabama Express (AUS) x Sent From Above (AUS) (Lonhro (AUS))
Tnr: G Waterhouse & A Bott Rdr: Regan Bayliss 56.5
Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale $200,000
Seller: Yulong, Nagambie, Vic
Buyer: The Oaks Stud
2
2.5
Miss Judas
- 2f Microphone (AUS) x Sistine Angel (AUS) (Testa Rossa (AUS))
Tnr: Richard & Will Freedman Rdr: J R Collett 54.5
3
4.7
Blue Illusion
- 2c Blue Point (IRE) x Alucinari (AUS) (Street Cry (IRE))
Tnr: James Cummings Rdr: Zac Lloyd 56.5
4
4.9
Lamentum
- 2c Deep Field (AUS) x Viviette (IRE) (Invincible Spirit (IRE))
Tnr: C Maher & D Eustace Rdr: Tyler Schiller 56.5
5
5.3
The Three Hundred
- 2c I Am Invincible (AUS) x Sassy 'n' Smart (AUS) (Smart Missile (AUS))
Tnr: G Waterhouse & A Bott Rdr: B Prebble 56.5
6
6.1
Agenda Setter
- 2c I Am Invincible (AUS) x Secret Agenda (AUS) (Not A Single Doubt (AUS))
Tnr: M, W & J Hawkes Rdr: Tommy Berry 56.5
7
8.7
Shoutaboutit
- 2f Overshare (AUS) x Etoile Fille (NZ) (No Excuse Needed (GB))
Tnr: Ms K Buchanan Rdr: Reece Jones 54.5
More Reading...
Best On Breeding
Seventeen stakes’ races on Saturday, four in the nation’s capital on Sunday, four in Adelaide on Monday, and not forgetting the Group III Newcastle Stakes on Friday, should test the stamina of the most ardent fan.
Well Bred Long Shot Mare Wins G3 Hobart Cup
The $250,000 Group III Ladbrokes Hobart Cup (2400m) was the headline event on a champagne day of racing in Tasmania on Sunday and the winner was an interesting one from the breeding perspective being a 30-1 long shot mare with a commercial pedigree.
Sires With Winners - Sunday February 8
Here is the full list of 73 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
The Alabama Express Rolls On with Shangri La Express
The fleet-footed Alabama Express colt Shangri La Express kept his record at a perfect two for two with a courageous performance in Saturday’s $1,000,000 Inglis Golden Gift (1100m) at Rosehill.
$400,000 Hellbent Colt Sold by Riverstone Lodge
It’s often said yearling buyers drill for oil where they have found it before and that rang true when BK Racing purchased a colt by Hellbent for $400,000 at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale on Sunday.
People At Classic - Day One Selling
Day One of Inglis Classic was a good one which made for happy sellers and Maree McEwan was out speaking to them.
$425,000 Extreme Choice Filly Tops Inglis Classic Day 1
A filly and a colt both directly targeted at the Classic Yearling Sale to “stand out from the crowd’’ strongly rewarded their owners today as Inglis’ live sales season started on a positive note.
$300,000 Too Darn Hot Filly to Waterhouse Bott Stable
The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott stable have already had success this season for Kurrinda Bloodstock with brilliant 2YO filly Shiki, who won the Group III ATC Gimcrack Stakes and they teamed up again for another filly by her sire Too Darn Hot (GB) at Inglis Classic on Sunday.
First SW for Anders – Daytona Diva Wins Listed Strutt Stakes
The $125,000 Listed Strutt Stakes (2020m) in Hobart on Sunday was expected to be won by the visiting Henry Dwyer trained filly Aurora Rise, but the favourite was no match for locally trained Anders filly Daytona Diva.
Playing God Stakes Quinella – MM Perth Update
Western Australia’s champion sire Playing God achieved a notable career milestone on Saturday when his son Almighty Class notched up a quarter century of stakes winners for the remarkable stallion, posting a commanding victory in the Listed Cyril Flower Stakes.