Shalaa has been strongly supported by Australian breeders & buyers and will again serve a strong book of mares 2020. (PHOTO: Bronwen Healy)

Shalaa fires up with four winners in 8 days

As he begins serving his fourth book of Australian mares, Shalaa’s first European runners are showing why he has been so popular in both hemispheres.

His daughter Samrah (ex Badee Ah by Motivator, from the family of Champion Enable) scored over 1600 metres at second time of asking in France on Saturday, after a first-up third on 5 August. 

HH Sheikh Abdullah Bin Khalifa Al Thani’s homebred SAMRAH (FR) (Shalaa x Badeeah) 2nd time out wins Prix Decathlon La Teste at La Teste De Buch. Olivier Peslier steered the Francois Rohaut-trained bay filly to a short-head win in the mile run for 2YO maiden fillies@FranceGalop pic.twitter.com/6RYlvajUQ2

— نادي السباق والفروسية (@Q_REC) September 5, 2020

His son Legal Attack (ex Lauren Louise by Tagula) opened Shalaa’s week with a comfortable debut win over 6 furlongs at Newmarket on 29 August. The Simon & Ed Crisford-trained colt is entered for one of the two Group 1 races Shalaa won in 2015, the Middle Park Stakes on 26 September, as well as the Dewhurst S. G1 a fortnight later.

✅ Expensive buy
✅ Middle Park entry
✅ Winning debut

Legal Attack (Shalaa) is a half-brother to smart pair Bogart and Blaine and finishes nicely in a promising debut effort for @crisfordracing at @NewmarketRace

Results & free replays ➡ https://t.co/GI57hUtDeF pic.twitter.com/CIALHzCfwM

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) August 29, 2020

A pair of Shalaa colts posted a cross-Channel double on Thursday. After two placings in his first three starts, Longlai (out of Listed winner Mojo Risin by Lope de Vega) broke his maiden at Salisbury , while King Shalaa (ex Baki by Turtle Bowl from the family of leading sire Anabaa) added a second win to his debut success with a gritty effort at Lyon Parilly.

HH Sheikh Abdullah Bin Khalifa Al Thani’s KING SHALAA (FR) (Shalaa x Baki) stays unbeaten 2nd time up winning the Prix Christian Rollet at Lyon Parilly. Pierre Charles Boudot rode the Francois Rohaut-trained bay colt to a head win in the mile class 2 run for 2YO @AtTheRaces pic.twitter.com/1XXslmF5hr

— نادي السباق والفروسية (@Q_REC) September 1, 2020

This takes Shalaa’s tally of European first-crop juvenile winners to nine. His first Australian 2YOs race this season from most of the country’s leading stables.