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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.

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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.

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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
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
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