A rapidly emerging star sire in Japan, Maurice is now stepping up in Australia too. (PHOTO: Bronwen Healy)

Winning on Friday, selling on Sunday!

Excitement continues to build around the first-crop 2YOs by Maurice & Shalaa and Friday night results from Sydney & Melbourne showed why.

Debutants Mazu & Conrad, both by Maurice, were a terrific 1-2 over 1100m at Canterbury, and 15 minutes later Shalaa’s son Cheerful Legend was equally impressive, winning by 2 lengths over 1200 metres at The Valley.

Cheerful Legend is a half-brother of dual Hong Kong Group 1 winner Contentment out of Jemison (by Commands) and was a $600,000 Magic Millions buy from Arrowfield by trainer John Sadler for owner Bon Ho.

He joins Breeders’ Plate & Magic Millions Classic winner Shaquero and the filly Saasmit to give Shalaa three first-crop 2YO winners in Australia.

Mazu is a half-brother to G1 winner Headway (ex Chatelaine by Flying Spur), bought by Triple Crown Syndications for $180,000 from the Inglis Classic draft of breeder Parsons Creek and trained by Peter & Paul Snowden.

He is Maurice’s second Australian winner, after Balmaurice, an eye-catching debut winner at Eagle Farm in January.

Conrad (ex No Comment by Danzero) is a home-bred for Fadega Pty Ltd & Mark Waugh, and is prepared by Kim Waugh.

Maurice (5 colts and a filly) & Shalaa (8 colts, 4 fillies) are both well-represented at the Inglis Melbourne Premier Sale. Arrowfield Bloodstock Manager Jon Freyer notes a few standouts at the Sale – watch the video: