Glorious debut by Shalaa colt

Much was expected of Shalaa’s 3YO son Mornington Glory ahead of his Bendigo debut over 1100 metres on Wednesday, and much was delivered when he sprinted clear to score by 3.75 lengths.

Winning debut for MORNINGTON GLORY

Shalaa 3yo, 3 strains of Danzig, 1/2 bro to Gr1 Hallowed Crown & Gr3 Needs Further.@mattlaurierace @mmsnippets @BahenBstockHK @AWilliamsBldstk @GooreeStud @ArrowfieldStud @AlShaqabRacing pic.twitter.com/oKj5RdNZDW

— Pedigree Update (@pedigreeupdate) September 15, 2021

Trainer Matt Laurie was quick to mention a couple of big Spring targets for the handsome colt he bought for $360,000 from the Estate of Eduardo Cojuangco at the sale held by Magic Millions in August 2020.

“We’ve had a big opinion of this horse right from the beginning…he’ll improve a hell of a lot from today…I’d like to run him in the Danehill [G2, on 2 October] and  maybe the Coolmore [G1, on 30 October].”

Mornington Glory has a pedigree to match the loftiest goals he may kick on the racetrack. He is the last foal of Danehill’s gifted daughter Crowned Glory, a 2YO Group winner & runner-up in Belle du Jour’s Golden Slipper, and the dam of dual Group 1 winner Hallowed Crown & Group 3 winner Needs Further, both now Group 1 sires. 

Mornington Glory’s second dam Significant Moment (by Bletchingly) is a half-sister to multiple Champion Sire Zabeel and Group 1 winner Baryshnikov.

Not surprisingly, Danehill-line mares have produced six of Shalaa’s 11 first-crop Australian winners to date, among them last season’s Magic Millions 2YO Classic & dual Group winner Shaquero. 

Shalaa posted his first Group 1 winner No Speak Alexander in Ireland last Saturday and has compiled three other new winners in Australia this season: Shajaea (2 wins), Flower Moon & Veterok. 

A total of 78 second-crop yearlings by Shalaa were offered for sale in 2021 and 76 sold for an average price of $166,000, with a top price $1.15 million paid by James Harron for the Honesty Prevails colt at Magic Millions.