Fifth Winner for Shalaa

Mark Smith - Sunday April 11

Arrowfield Stud’s Shalaa (IRE) joined five other first crop stallions with five winners when Orbis Bloodstock’s Hunnam broke through for his maiden success over 1000m at Caulfield on Saturday.

Jye McNeil made his intentions clear early when making use of his inside barrier to drive Hunnam to the lead.

Hunnam breaks his maiden with ease (image Grant Courtney)

Kicking clear coming around the home turn, Hunnam was untroubled to defeat He's Xceptional (Xtravagant) by one and three-quarter lengths with a further one and a half lengths back to the favourite  Cheerful Legend (Shalaa) in third in what was a first season sire trifecta.

Trained by Michael, Wayne and John Hawkes, Hunnam was making his fifth start and was coming off a third in the Listed Redoute’s Choice Stakes at Caulfield won by Najmaty.

“The team made the plan to roll forward if we began well enough today, which really suited the race,” McNeil said.

“The 1200 metres and the blinkers were the key to today’s performance and it was quite easy for him.

&ldq

Advertisement
uo;They helped him travel better underneath me and he lifted when I asked. He travelled really comfortably so in the future he’ll be able to get over a bit more ground.”

Hunnam a $400,000 Magic Millions yearling

Purchased by Redwall Bloodstock for $150,000 out of the Rushton Park draft at the 2019 Magic Millions National Weanling Sale, the son of Shalaa (IRE) returned a healthy profit when  Ardross Bloodstock Pty Ltd went to $400,000 to secure him out of the Widden Stud draft at the Gold Coast in 2020.

Forest View Farm had bought Hunnum’s dam Skating On Ice for $95,000 out of the Holbrook Thoroughbreds draft at the 2019 National broodmare Sale when carrying the son of Shalaa (IRE).

Hunnam (image Grant Courtney)

A stakes-placed winner of eight races, Skating On Ice is now four for four. The daughter of Bradbury’s Luck has a yearling colt by Impending and was covered by Written by last spring.

Currently, the third leading first-crop sire on earnings, Shalaa (IRE) joins Frosted (USA), Star Turn, Sooboog, Flying Artie and Maurice (JPN) on five winners. They are all chasing Capitalist, who has eight individual winners to date.

Advertisment

Race Result - Neds Hcp 1200m

Caulfield Track: Good(4) Time: 1:11.45
1
Hunnam
- 2g Shalaa (IRE) x Skating On Ice (AUS) (Bradbury's Luck (AUS))
Tnr: M, W & J Hawkes Rdr: Jye McNeil 55.5
2
1.8
He's Xceptional
- 2g Xtravagant (NZ) x She's A Danica (AUS) (Sebring (AUS))
Tnr: T Busuttin & N Young Rdr: D Moor 56
3
3.3
Cheerful Legend
- 2c Shalaa (IRE) x Jemison (AUS) (Commands (AUS))
Tnr: J D Sadler Rdr: M Zahra 57.5
4
4.2
Taborca
- 2c Snitzel (AUS) x Fit And Ready (AUS) (More Than Ready (USA))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: Damien Thornton 55
5
5.7
Lucky Decision
- 2c Zacinto (GB) x Secret Scent (NZ) (O'Reilly (NZ))
Tnr: P G Moody Rdr: D W Stackhouse 55
6
6.0
Wegottem Today Son
- 2g Manhattan Rain (AUS) x Optimizing (AUS) (Exceed And Excel (AUS))
Tnr: Brent Stanley Rdr: B Prebble 55.5
More Reading...
Luberon Heads Cambridge Stud Saturday Charge
Lance Noble will attempt to add to a strong run of spring form for Cambridge Stud when he sends out five well-credentialled runners in Brendan and Jo Lindsay’s black and gold colours at Pukekohe on Saturday.
$2,000 Gavelhouse Bargain Keeps on Winning!
The Grey Goose continued to belie her purchase price last start when recording her fifth win at Wingatui, bringing her career earnings to more than $225,000.
City of Troy Crowned 2024 Cartier European Horse of the Year
Outstanding Justify colt City of Troy was crowned Horse of the Year at the 2024 Cartier awards on Wednesday night in London at a star studded ceremony at the Dorchester Hotel.
Cambridge Stud News
It’s been the spring that keeps giving for Cambridge Stud and it’s not over yet.
Pinhook Winners 2024 NZB Ready to Run – Churchill Colt the Star
A record breaking NZB Ready to Run Sale this week at Karaka delivered plenty of pinhook success with 18 two year-olds selling for $300,000 or more above their yearling purchase price, so let’s take a look at some of the best of them.
Magic Millions 2025 Magazine Online
The 2025 Magic Millions magazine is now online with a great mix of gallery images, editorial and vendor profilies.
Halo Racing Reduction features in November (Late) catalogue
Shares in reigning G1 Caulfield Cup champion Duke de Sessa, G1 Toorak Hcp winner Attrition and tomorrow’s G1 Railway Stakes favourite Light Infantry Man headline an exciting Inglis Digital November (Late) Online Sale.
$1.3million Snitzel Colt Ready to Fire on Debut for Te Akau
Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson are confident they have the young firepower to make an early impression in the first of the black type features at Pukekohe Park on Saturday.
Best On Breeding
The cerise, white crossed sashes and black cap of Bob Peters, Peter's Investments, may not be the once dominant force they have been for decades in Western Australian racing, but they are far from finished.
One to Watch – Hawkesbury
Castelvecchio has gone from nowhere to somewhere during the course of this spring with three stakes-winners putting his name in lights and he had a promising three year-old colt salute at Hawkesbury on Thursday that has now won two of three starts.