Shalaa & Maurice 2YOs sparkle in Sydney
Shaquero (blue cap) proves too strong at the end of the ATC Pago Pago S. G3, defeating Tiger Of Malay (outside) and Maurice's son Mazu (obscured, on the rail). (PHOTO: Martin King/Sportpix)
Ten minutes after Champion Sire Snitzel notched up his fifth 2YO Group 1 winner, Arrowfield’s young guns Shalaa & Maurice pointed the way to the future in Sydney.
Shalaa’s son Shaquero once again stepped up when it counted, bustling his way to victory as Mazu flashed forward late to snatch third, and become Maurice’s first Australian stakes performer.
Shaquero bounces back to win a thrilling edition of the G3 Pago Pago. Gun ride from @KPMcEvoy for @cwallerracing. Next stop Golden Slipper! pic.twitter.com/Ub2OWKoKQP
— Sky Racing (@SkyRacingAU) March 13, 2021
Bred by Bob Hannon from the Not A Single Doubt mare Fimatino, Shaquero was a $160,000 Mulcaster Bloodstock buy for Neville Morgan & David Devine from the Fernrigg Farm draft at Magic Millions.
After his debut Breeders’ Plate G3 win, Magic Millions triumph and now the Pago Pago from six starts, Shaquero’s earnings stand at $1.3 million with the prospect of adding up to $2 million in next week’s Golden Slipper G1.
Trainer Chris Waller did not hesitate to confirm the colt will take his place in the Slipper field.
“He ran a week before winning the Magic Millions and he does pretty well between runs…he’ll be fitter again in seven days.”
Shalaa is second on the Australian 2YO Sires’ & First Season Sires’ Premierships and his second-crop yearlings have so far averaged 5.6 times his fee with a top price of $1.15 million for the Honesty Prevails colt.
Mazu is trained by Peter & Paul Snowden for a large group of owners assembled by Triple Crown Syndications which paid $180,000 for him at the Inglis Classic Sale where he was offered by breeder Parsons Creek Pastoral.
A debut winner at Canterbury on 26 February, Mazu is out of the Flying Spur mare Chatelaine whose first foal Headway was named Champion 2YO Filly and then won the Coolmore Stud S. G1 as a three-year-old.
Shalaa added his fourth Australian winner on Sunday when the filly Tidal Impact (ex Eventide by Dane Shadow) scored by 9.5 lengths on debut at Coonamble for Impact Racing & trainer Damien Lane.
Maurice is already making a serious mark in Japan, and posted his second Group winner on Sunday when his daughter Shigeru Pink Ruby (ex Moonlight Bay by High Chaparral) took out the 1400-metre Hanshin Fillies’ Revue G2 in 1:20.4. He is poised to do the same in Australia where he now has three impressive winners and his second-crop yearlings have sold up to $330,000.
The 2021 Inglis Easter Sale catalogue includes 3 colts and 4 fillies by Shalaa, with three lots offered by Arrowfield; while Maurice has a filly and 3 colts, all in the Arrowfield draft.
