New 2YO stakeswinner for Shalaa

Shalaa has under-lined his value as an outcross source of juvenile talent with his 4th Australian 2YO stakeswinner Quang Tri, impressive winner of Saturday’s $160,000 VRC Taj Rossi Series Final 1600m LR.  

The Prime Thoroughbreds filly has progressed steadily since her February debut 5th at Pakenham, with a second at Sale to Maurice’s promising son Bank Maur before victory in last month’s Swan Hill Elvstroem Classic.

Quang Tri finishes the strongest over a mile for the in-form Patrick Payne & Billy Egan 🤝@JoefromPrime @FlemingtonVRC

— Racing.com (@Racing) July 2, 2022

 The manner of Quang Tri’s Flemington win, achieved with a sustained, straight-long chase after racing wide without cover, opens up exciting Classic possibilities for her in the Spring. 

That was confirmed by Prime’s Joe O’Neill who said, “She could go on and become a very, very good three-year-old…she beat the boys here today, and she had to carry the weight…We’ve got a high opinion of her and we have had from day one.”

Bred and sold by Rushton Park, Quang Tri was a $90,000 buy from the Inglis Melbourne Premier Sale and is trained by Patrick Payne. Her dam Saigon Tea (by Spinning World’s son Thorn Park) won the 2400-metre Christmas Cup LR as a 5YO, and her grand-dam Boulevardofdreams won at Group 2 level in New Zealand before her Australian Oaks G1 third. 

Shalaa’s latest European 3YO stakeswinners Night Endeavor (successful in last weekend’s Toulouse Derby LR), Siam Paragon & Welwal have won from 1400m to 2400m, indicating a versatility that his precocious Australian progeny are also likely to display.

Quang Tri, along with Group winners Seven Veils (whose grand-dam is by Spinning World) & Semillion, and city winners including Shalstar, Shalailed & Gold Bucket head Shalaa’s 50 Australian winners this season. They have earned him 2nd spot by winners and 5th position by prizemoney on the 2nd Season Sires’ Premiership. 

The action on the track explains the demand for Shalaa’s yearlings with 53 sold at major 2022 sales for almost 6 times his fee, and a top price of $500,000 paid for Segenhoe Stud’s Set For Fame filly by the Waterhouse, Bott & Kestrel Thoroughbreds team.