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.

Shan

Advertisement
gri 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.

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
MM Gold Coast Yearling Sale $220,000
Seller: Yulong, Nagambie, Vic
Buyer: Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott Racing/Kestrel Thoroughbreds
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
MM Gold Coast Yearling Sale $320,000
Seller: Kia Ora Stud, Scone, NSW
Buyer: Richard & Will Freedman
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...
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.
Best On Breeding
In times past, many a racing tragic would have nursed a sore head at Wallabadah on New Year’s Day.
Inglis Great Southern Now Online
Weanlings by the likes of Frankel, I Am Invincible, Zoustar, Snitzel, Lord Kanaloa, Wootton Bassett, Toronado and Written Tycoon headline a spectacular offering of foals at this year’s Great Southern Sale, for which the catalogue is now available online.
Four Length Winner for Cosmic Force
Opening his account with a dazzling four length victory at Grafton on Thursday was talented Cosmic Force gelding Cosmic Fire.
2024 HTBA Awards Night
Over 340 industry leaders, clients and supporters, attended the Hunter Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association 2024 Annual Awards in Scone to recognise the Hunter’s elite equine athletes.
G1 Winner Affaire a Suivre Added to MM National Supplementary
The supplementary catalogue for the 2024 Magic Millions National Weanling and Broodmare Sales has been finalised with a further nine stakes performers among the latest confirmed entries.
Juvenile Trial Watch – Randwick
There were seven heats won by juveniles at the Randwick trials on Thursday morning that included some expensive unraced youngsters and we also had a look at Group I ATC Champagne Stakes winner Broadsiding, who obviously has the Group I BRC JJ Atkins next month in his sights.
Sires With Winners - Wednesday May 15
Here is the full list of 39 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
New 2YO Stakes-Winner for Too Darn Hot
With his service fee pushed to $110,000 in Australia this spring, Darley shuttler Too Darn Hot (GB) was on the board overnight with the first stakes-winner from his second crop in the Northern Hemisphere with promising filly Hot Darling taking out the Listed Prix des Reves d’Or Jacques Bouchara (1000m) at Vichy in France.
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.