The Alabama Express Rolls On with Shangri La Express

Mark Smith - Saturday November 11

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.

That was brave (image Steve Hart)

Ridden by Regan Bayliss for Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott, the near-black 2-year-old colt was made to work before tacking up the running.

He looked a sitting shot at the 200m but kept on kicking to defeat the Per Incanto (USA) colt Rue De Royale by one and a quarter lengths with the Snitzel colt Volatile three-quarters of a length back in third.

A two-and-a-half-length winner of the Kirkham Plate at Randwick when on debut the son of Alabama Express has banked $662,500 and is assured of a spot in the Golden Slipper.

“Excellent win. He had to do it pretty hard from that wide gate,” Bott said.

&ldq

Advertisement
uo;He’s a natural two-year-old, he shows good early speed and sustained speed. He’s got that great ability to be able to quicken off that.

“He did that first-up and he’s been able to put in an even stronger performance second-up today. All the makings of a top class two-year-old.

“He’s going to Magic Millions, but we’ve got big plans for him in the Autumn. We need to see whether there’s enough in the tank to do it all, or whether we just focus on the Slipper.

“He got a bit above himself today, in fairness they all paraded a bit warm. He’s doing everything right. He’s a professional, he came across from the wide gate and just came under Regan.”

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.

That $million feeling (image Steve Hart)

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.

Also, the sire of the Group III Ottawa stakes winner Karavas, Alabama Success has made an encouraging star to his stud career. The Group 1 winning son of Redoute’s Choice stands at Yulong Stud for $22,000.

 

Advertisment

Race Result - Inglis Golden Gift 1100m

Rosehill Track: Good(4) Time: 1:03.95
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
1.2
Rue De Royale
- 2c Per Incanto (USA) x Urban Royal (AUS) (Exceed And Excel (AUS))
Tnr: T & C McEvoy Rdr: C Schofield 56.5
Inglis Classic Yearling Sale $180,000
Seller: Sledmere Stud, Scone
Buyer: McEvoy Mitchell Racing Pty Ltd / Belmont Bloodstock Agency (FBAA)
3
2.1
Volatile
- 2c Snitzel (AUS) x Artemis Rose (AUS) (Lonhro (AUS))
Tnr: P & P Snowden Rdr: Tommy Berry 56.5
MM Gold Coast Yearling Sale $550,000
Seller: Newgate Farm, Aberdeen, NSW (As Agent)
Buyer: China Horse Club/Newgate/Go/Trilogy
4
2.2
Climactic
- 2c Yes Yes Yes (AUS) x Snitzel's Joy (AUS) (Snitzel (AUS))
Tnr: M J Dunn Rdr: A Hyeronimus 56.5
5
3.0
Scampi
- 2c Blue Point (IRE) x Sistonic (AUS) (Bel Esprit (AUS))
Tnr: C Maher & D Eustace Rdr: Dylan Gibbons 56.5
6
4.4
Trafalgar Square
- 2f Churchill (IRE) x Amnesiac (AUS) (Excellent Art (GB))
Tnr: David Payne Rdr: Zac Lloyd 54.5
7
4.6
Miss Judas
- 2f Microphone (AUS) x Sistine Angel (AUS) (Testa Rossa (AUS))
Tnr: Richard & Will Freedman Rdr: J R Collett 54.5
8
5.8
Betta Being Single
- 2f Better Than Ready (AUS) x Not A Single Woman (AUS) (Not A Single Doubt (AUS))
Tnr: G Waterhouse & A Bott Rdr: Rachel King 54.5
9
6.2
Art's Alive
- 2f Snitzel (AUS) x Novel Dancer (AUS) (Written Tycoon (AUS))
Tnr: Brad Widdup Rdr: J Ford 54.5
10
6.5
War Council
- 2c Royal Meeting (IRE) x Russian Rites (AUS) (Stravinsky (USA))
Tnr: M, W & J Hawkes Rdr: K Jennings 56.5
11
7.3
Lamentum
- 2c Deep Field (AUS) x Viviette (IRE) (Invincible Spirit (IRE))
Tnr: C Maher & D Eustace Rdr: N Rawiller 57
12
7.9
Petawawa
- 2f Written Tycoon (AUS) x Shesees Everything (AUS) (Star Witness (AUS))
Tnr: R & L Price Rdr: Reece Jones 54.5
13
10.4
Thunderous
- 2c Night Of Thunder (IRE) x Mia Diva (GB) (Exceed And Excel (AUS))
Tnr: G Portelli Rdr: Brock Ryan 56.5
14
14.7
That's Outstanding
- 2c The Autumn Sun (AUS) x Miss Super Quick (USA) (Rock Hard Ten (USA))
Tnr: G Portelli Rdr: Tom Sherry 56.5
More Reading...
4.5Million Guineas for G1 Winning Mare in Foal to Frankel
The Group 1 winner TEONA, offered in foal to FRANKEL, became the third highest priced mare ever to be sold at the Tattersalls December Mares Sale when realising 4,500,000 guineas, while Group I winning mares by champion Australian sires Fastnet Rock and Zoustar sold for 2million guineas plus.
Shangri La Express Makes It Two from Two for Alabama Express
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.
Bloodstockauction.com Hosts the First Yearling Sale of the Season
Bloodstockauction.com is proudly hosting its Pre-Christmas Online Signature Yearling Sale, which will go live on the 14th of December 2023.
First Season Sires Unraced Trial Report
The Magic Millions 2YO Classic is just over a month away and the $500,000 Inglis Nursery is on this Saturday at Randwick, so interest in what is happening at the trials is on high alert and for the first season sires you need ammo in the locker if you’re going to be able to fire a shot.
One To Watch - Gosford
The 4-year-old Extreme Choice mare, Lady Extreme, recently sold as a breeding proposition for little more than a tenth of her yearling price before making an impressive debut over 1000m at Gosford on Thursday.
Sires With Winners - Wednesday December 6
Here is the full list of 35 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
First Winner for Too Darn Hot
Darley Stud's exciting young stallion Too Darn Hot (GB) is off the mark in Australia, with the Shane Nichols-trained filly Climate Change dominating on debut in Wednesday's Wilsons Real Estate Maiden Plate at Geelong.
The Aussie Army Grows on Day 2 of Tattersalls December Mares Sale
After being active on the opening day of the Tattersalls December Mares Sale, Kia Ora Stud, Dean Hawthorne Bloodstock, and Australian Bloodstock were back in action while Yulong, Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, Mick Price, First Light Racing, Ontrack Thoroughbreds, and China Horse Club entered the fray.
Rosehill - Going, Going, Gone?
In an email to members, big on buzzwords and friendly phrases, and light on detail, the Australian Turf Club has announced plans to commence negotiations with the state government on a proposal to develop Rosehill Gardens racecourse, creating 25,000 new homes around a new Sydney Metro West station. 
Godolphin Draft Highlights Third Day of Tattersalls December Mares Sale
Trade at the Tattersalls December Mares Sale continued in robust fashion on the third day with 14 lots selling for 50,000 guineas or more headed by a top lot of 160,000 guineas, taking turnover for the Tattersalls December Sale past the 100,000,000 guineas mark.