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...
2025 Breednet Favourite Foal Winner
Firstly we’d like to thank everyone for taking an interest in our foal gallery and supporting their favourites, but there can only be one 2025 Favourite Foal and Vinery Stud’s first season sire Hawaii Five Oh has gained a jump on his rivals in producing his first winner!
First HK Winner for Sebring Sun
Bargain priced Glenthorne Park based sire Sebring Sun had his first winner in Hong Kong on Saturday when The Red Hare saluted at Sha Tin.
Apulia Unleashes Devastating Perth Cup Trial
Lightly raced five year old entire Apulia produced one of the best Perth Cup trials seen in years when he produced a finish Bernborough himself would have admired to take the weight for age G2 Ted Van Heemst Stakes at Ascot.
Gin a Tonic Dominates MM 3YO and 4YO Victorian Classic
The $175,000 Magic Millions Victorian 3YO and 4YO Classic (1200m) at Caulfield on Saturday produced a dominant winner in Gin a Tonic, shining the spotlight on his half-brother by Ole Kirk to be offered at Magic Millions next month.
J-Mac Headed to Bac to NZ for G1 Ride
No-one knows better than Lance O’Sullivan what it takes to win the Gr.1 TAB Telegraph (1200m), which is as good a recommendation as any around the engagement of James McDonald for Tomodachi in the Trentham Group One sprint.
Sires With Winners - Sunday December 21
Here is the full list of 49 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
2026 Magic Millions Order of Entry 2YO and 3YO Updated
Racing Queensland have today released order of entry updates for the rich $3million Magic Millions 2YO Classic and 3YO Guineas to be run at the Gold Coast on January 17 with last week’s three 2YO debutants coming into the top 10.
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.
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.
Widden Produce the Magic Winners
The beauty of buying a Magic Millions yearling is their eligibility for a rich program of races scheduled around the country and no farm has a better record for producing the winners of these races than Widden Stud with Unit Five the latest name added to the list.