Arrowfield Stud shuttler Shalaa (IRE) has had a busy season with his juveniles and Prime Thoroughbreds colour bearer Quang Tri added to that success when scoring a stylish victory in the $160,000 Listed VRC Taj Ross Final (1600m) at Flemington on Saturday.
A last start winner of the $125,000 Vobis Gold Elvstroem Classic (1300m) at Swan Hill, the Patrick Payne trained filly came with a well-timed run for Billy Egan to win by a length taking her overall record to two wins and two placings from five starts with prizemoney in excess of $185,000.
Prime Thoroughbreds have had a lot of success with Patrick Payne through horses such as Rubisaki, Husson Eagle, Invincible Al and the list goes on.
Winning rider Billy Egan was positive in his assessment after the race.
“I think she’s ready to aim at some Black Type races over 2000m in the spring,” said Egan.
“She’s a very progressive filly.”
Quang Tri was a $90,000 Inglis Premier purchase for Prime Thoroughbreds from the Rushton Park draft and is a half-sister to good Sydney metro winner Saigon being the second winner from stakes-winning Thorn Park mare Saigon Tea, who died prematurely last year.
“She’s a very, very good filly,”said Joe O’Neill of Prime Thoroughbreds.
“Paddy Payne has done a superb job with her and she has a great pedigree. Her second dam was placed in the Australian Oaks and her mother won the Christmas Cup in Sydney and she’s by Shalaa, who stands up at Arrowfield.
“We were lucky to get her for what we paid and I think she can go on and be a very good 3YO.”
Quang Tri is the ninth stakes-winner worldwide for Shalaa and is one of 13 Australian juvenile winners this season for the Group I winning son of Invincible Spirit.
Shalaa stands at a fee of $33,000 at Arrowfield this spring.
