Shalaa’s son wins Magic Millions 2YO Classic

Shalaa’s first-crop son Shaquero is the third straight Arrowfield-sired winner of the $2 million Magic Millions Classic 1200m RL, and gives champion trainer Chris Waller his first victory in the race that 35 years ago introduced a new layer of excitement to the purchase of yearlings. 

Shalaa now heads both the 2YO & First Season Sires’ Premierships with $1.4 million prizemoney.

Shaquero wins the @mmsnippets 2YO Classic for @cwallerracing and @HugeBowman. What a race! pic.twitter.com/kxF7FLfVdK

— Racing.com (@Racing) January 16, 2021

John Messara says, “Shaquero’s win is a great thrill for us, and all the breeders and buyers who have backed Shalaa. Winning the Breeders’ Plate and now the Magic Millions Classic marks Shaquero as a special kind of horse, and based on everything we’ve seen of Shalaa and his progeny, we think he’ll leave more of them!

“We’re delighted for everyone involved with Shaquero, especially Chris Waller, and Bob Hannon, who bred Shamus Award, a milestone horse for Snitzel, and has now done the same for Shalaa.” 

Shaquero’s dam, the Not A Single Doubt mare Fimatino, is a winning half-sister to the dam of Shamus Award, a dual Group 1 winner and now a top 20 sire.

Shaquero was offered by Fernrigg Farm and bought for $160,000 by Guy Mulcaster for Neville Morgan and David Devine, who also shared success with Snitzel’s first Group 1 winner, Sizzling. The colt has now earned $1.2 million from two wins and a placing in his first four starts.

Magic Millions raceday success followed a week of sale-ring fireworks for Shalaa, whose 23 Book 1 yearlings sold for an average price of $232,391 (7.7 times his $30,000 fee). 

The son of Invincible Spirit recorded his first 7-figure yearling when Arrowfield’s  colt out of Honesty Prevails (by Redoute’s Choice) was secured by James Harron for $1.15 million.

Arrowfield also sold Shalaa’s top-priced filly, out of Group 2 winner Kebede (by Redoute’s Choice), a $360,000 buy for John O’Shea; and the $440,000 Shalaa-Villa Rosa colt, bought by Ciaron Maher from the final, Saturday evening session of Book 1.

Other buyers of Shalaa’s second-crop Magic Millions yearlings include Hawkes Racing, Danny O’Brien, Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott, Magic Bloodstock, Matt Dunn, Ellerton Zahra Racing, Darby Racing, Mick Price, Griffiths de Kock Racing and Edmonds Racing & Kestrel Thoroughbreds.
The Waller & Mulcaster team purchased Vinery Stud’s $320,000 colt out of Pocket Power. 

Shalaa’s final Magic Millions 2021 yearlings are four Book 2 fillies, among them Arrowfield’s attractive filly out of city winner & 2YO stakes producer Watchme (by Bel Esprit).
View: Lot 1136 – Shalaa-Watchme filly