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...
Kiwi Bred Grey Wins Subzero for OTI at Flemington
New Zealand-bred gelding Cloudland proved a handful for James McDonald at Flemington on Tuesday, but the champion jockey was in a forgiving mood after they had claimed top honours in the Subzero Handicap.
2024 Melbourne Cup Result - It's Knights Choice
The 2024 Melbourne Cup has been run and won with Knight’s Choice, a five-year-old gelding by Extreme Choice victorious.
More Stakes Success for Air Assault
Group I placed last season in the SA Derby, talented gelding Air Assault kept the winning run going for Victoria Derby winning trainer Andrew Gluyas when taking out the Listed SAJC John Letts Cup (1800m) at Morphettville on Melbourne Cup Day.
Knights Choice a True Underdog Story
Punters were left stunned when the Queenslander Knight's Choice and Japanese visitor Warp Speed (JPN) emerged from the pack to fight out a dramatic finish to the $8,560,000 Group 1 Lexus Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington.
$6million Frankel Mare Tops Fasig -Tipton November Sale
The Fasig-Tipton November Sale, billed as the World’s Premier Breeding Stock Event, was held Monday at the company’s Newtown Paddocks in Lexington, Kentucky. Twenty-five offerings sold for $1,000,000 or more, led by a trio of Grade/Group 1 winners with international appeal.
Sires With Winners - Tuesday November 5
Here is the full list of 145 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
El Vencedor wins G3 Balmerino Stakes
El Vencedor is making a habit of picking up major victories at Ellerslie, adding the Gr.3 Balmerino Stakes (2000m) to his burgeoning record at Tuesday’s Melbourne Cup Day meeting.
Kiwi Bred Gringotts Wins $3million Big Dance
Talented New Zealand-bred gelding Gringotts(NZ) (Per Incanto) delivered a big payday for his connections with victory in Tuesday’s A$3 million Big Dance (1600m) at Randwick.
Rosemont and Partners Stakes Quinella on Cup Day
Written Tycoon posted his second new stakes-winner on Melbourne Cup Day when promising three year-old gelding Catoggio took out the Listed VRC Amanda Elliot Stakes (1400m)  for Rosemont Stud and partners, who also race the second horse Bosustow.
All Too Hard's Arran Bay Brave in the Furphy Plate
Phillip Stokes admitted his preference was to run Arran Bay in the Listed John Letts Cup at Morphettville but was overruled by the owners, who made the correct decision in favouring the Listed Furphy Plate (1800m) at Flemington.