Shalaa’s first-crop Australian winners include Breeders’ Plate & Magic Millions-winning colt Shaquero and Group performers Nice For What & Tayla’s Moment. (PHOTO: Bronwen Healy)

First Group 1 winner for Shalaa

Arrowfield and Al Shaqab Racing are celebrating  Shalaa’s first Group 1 winner, No Speak Alexander who won the one-mile €300,000 Matron S. G1 at Leopardstown, Ireland on Saturday.

NO SPEAK ALEXANDER the first Gr1 winner for Shalaa winning the Matron Stakes at @LeopardstownRC

Dam Fr SW Rapacity Alexander a sister to HK Champion Peniaphobia.@Jessica_Racing @AlShaqabRacing @ArrowfieldStud #LICW21 pic.twitter.com/Y8OBa46kNE

— Pedigree Update (@pedigreeupdate) September 11, 2021

The 3YO filly’s victory may have surprised punters who sent her out at 25/1 but not to her trainer Jessica Harrington, who explained her last-start failure at Deauville, and noted No Speak Alexander’s third placing in the Irish One Thousand Guineas G1.

“Her day in the sun was today. Everything was right. She got no run at all in France and got knocked over a furlong down.

“We have trained her for this day and ridden her as we did in the Guineas, up at the sharp end. She has probably also got a little bit stronger. This was the plan and we’re going to enjoy it.”

Bred & raced by the O’Callaghan family of Mountarmstrong Stud, No Speak Alexander is the first foal of the Listed winner Rapacity Alexander (by Danehill’s son Dandy Man), a full sister to Champion Hong Kong Sprinter Peniaphobia. 

No Speak Alexander’s ability was evident in her five-start juvenile season when she won her second start, was stakes-placed and twice fourth in Group company.

She has blossomed at three, winning the Curragh Athasi S. G3 first-up and now, four months later, achieving elite status.

In Australia Shalaa is the sire of last season’s brilliant 2YO colt Shaquero, winner of the Breeders’ Plate & Pago Pago S. at Group 3 level as well as the Magic Millions 2YO Classic RL. 

Shalaa is also the sire of Group-placed fillies Nice For What & Tayla’s Moment, stakes-placed Melbourne winner Hunnam and a trio of promising 3YO winners: Flower Moon, Shajaea & Veterok.