New stakeswinner for Shalaa
It's an Arrowfield graduate quinella in the Zeditave S. G3 as Shalaa's son Recommendation finds the post ahead of Snitzel filly Wee Nessy. (PHOTO: Bronwen Healy)
Shalaa notched up his 11th career stakeswinner when Recommendation held out Arrowfield filly Wee Nessy in the $200,000 MRC Zeditave S. 1200m G3.
It was all the more impressive for being Recommendation’s first black type start and his first run in Melbourne after winning in Sydney on 1 February for a large group of owners including Nick & Gail Psaltis.
Co-trainer Ciaron Maher agreed, “Done a super job, this horse. Has gone to another level…I think he’ll improve again off the back of this.
“The form out of his last race is very good…his work had improved and we were confident he’d be an each-way chance here, for sure.”
If you got the Recommendation to back him, you’ve done well 💰
A lovely Victorian debut performance from the Shalaa gelding 👌 @cmaherracing @JohnnyA_24 pic.twitter.com/WRZad8Y7gK
— Racing.com (@Racing) February 25, 2023
Wee Nessy (Snitzel-Later Gator) showed the progress she’s made following her stakes-winning Spring campaign with a resolute chase, finishing less than a half-length from Recommendation.
The pair is likely to meet again in the $1 million Arrowfield 3YO Sprint G2 at Randwick on 8 April.
Foaled & raised at Arrowfield, Recommendation was bred by by Pacific King Australia from the unraced Street Cry mare Adviso, a daughter of the multiple US Grade 1 winner Proviso. Her first three foals are all winners, she has a yearling colt & a weanling filly by Shalaa and is in foal to The Autumn Sun.
Ten per cent of Shalaa’s Australian-bred runners are stakes performers and with 61 winners and $3.2 million prizemoney he holds his spot among Australia’s current top 5 Third Season sires.
The son of Invincible Spirit has 10 yearlings catalogued for the upcoming Inglis Premier Sale, 4 lots in the Magic Millions Adelaide catalogue and 3 colts & a filly on offer at Inglis Easter.
