Shalaa To Shuttle To Arrowfield

Shalaa | Zuzanna Lupa

Dual Group 1-winning juvenile Shalaa (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}–Ghurra, by War Chant) will shuttle to Arrowfield Stud in Australia from 2017, where he will stand for A$33,000. Shalaa is currently preparing to stand his first season at stud at Sheikh Joaan's Haras de Bouquetot in France, where he will stand for €27,500, the highest among first-season sires in Europe.

Arrowfield Chairman John Messara said, “We're excited to stand Europe's dominant sprinting 2-year-old Shalaa at Arrowfield in association with Al Shaqab, alongside their champion sprinter-miler Olympic Glory. Shalaa displayed the high-quality, early maturing speed that Australian breeders demand, and offers a fresh take on the Danzig sireline that is clearly working here. I have inspected him personally and he is a great physical type, ideally suited to the Australian market. Arrowfield will support him strongly with a significant number of our quality mares.”

Trained by John Gosden for Al Shaqab Racing, Shalaa won five of six starts at two, including in succession the G2 Arqana July S., the G2 Qatar Richmond S., the G1 Darley Prix Morny and the G1 Juddmonte Middle Park S. Shalaa was named champion 2-year-old in France and Britain. Off the track the first part of his 3-year-old campaign, Shalaa returned off a year's rest to win the G3 Bengough S. in October, and was 10th in the G1 Qipco British Champion S. in his swansong.

“He's very, very fast–the fastest 2-year-old I've trained,” Gosden said. “He has so much speed and has that sprinter's build, so he reminds us all of Oasis Dream–he's of that mould.”

Confirming the regard in which Al Shaqab holds Shalaa, his first book of mares at Haras de Bouquetot will include Sheikh Joaan's dual G1 Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner Treve (Fr) (Motivator {GB}).

Benoit Jeffroy, manager of the Al Shaqab breeding operation, said, “Shalaa is a standout individual, well-balanced, correct and he is a great mover. As a son of Invincible Spirit he should undoubtedly prove as popular with Australian breeders as he has been in Europe.”

Another son of Invincible Spirit, I Am Invincible (Aus), currently leads the Australian general sire table.

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