Placed at Warwick Farm, Randwick, and Hawkesbury at his first three starts, the Shalaa (IRE) colt Shalailed scored a welcome breakthrough over 1200m at Canterbury on Wednesday, but it would not have wanted to be a metre more.
Ridden by Brenton Avdulla for John O'Shea, Shalailed was gifted the perfect trail behind Mount Brilliant. After wrestling the lead from that son of Redoute's Choice, Shalailed looked set for an easy win before the outsider of the field, Kandos Cosmos, loomed as a menacing presence.
A first starter by Stratum Star, Kandos Cosmos was ridden along to stay in touch with the field early. Alysha Collett stuck close to the rails, and Kandos Cosmos charged home to be beaten a short-half-head.
The Vancouver gelding Vancouver's Crown was a length and a quarter back in third. He also made up many lengths to edge out Godolphin's Street Boss colt Manzoni.
Bred by Fairway Thoroughbreds, Shalailed carries the colours of Ron Finemore, who races him with partners that include Seymour Bloodstock.
John O'Shea Racing purchased Shalailed for $280,000 from the Segenhoe Stud consignment at the 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
He is the second winner from as many to race out of Fastnet Rock's Moonee Valley winner Unassailed, a $1,000,000 purchase for Peter Moody at the 2013 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
A half-sister to Listed winner and Group 1 Toorak Handicap runner-up Great Esteem (Redoute's Choice) and Listed winner High Esteem (Redoute's Choice), Unassailed is out of stakes-placed Park Esteem.
A daughter of Singspiel, Park Esteem is a three-quarter sister to Dubai World Cup winner Moon Ballad (Singspiel) and dual Group 1 winner Central Park (in The Wings), who gave Godolphin such a thrill when edged out by Rogan Josh in the 1999 Melbourne Cup.
Purchased by Boutique Thoroughbreds / Cunningham Thoroughbreds Trust / Paul Willetts Bloodstock for $2750,000 at the 2020 Inglis Chairman's Sale, Unassailed has an unraced 3yo Deep Impact filly named Dolomites, which was sold online last October for $40,000.
B K Racing / Brad Widdup Racing shelled out $450,000 for Unassailed's I Am Invincible colt at the 2022 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
The daughter of Fastnet Rock was covered by Zoustar last spring.
Shalailed is the tenth 2yo winner of the season for Arrowfield Stud's Shalaa (IRE).
