Shalaa 3YO Impressive at Randwick

Tara Madgwick - Saturday December 7

Shalaa (IRE) will have a runner at Sha Tin on Sunday when his class sprinter Recommendation flies the flag for Australia in the Group I HK International Sprint (1200m) and closer to home he had a brilliant winner at Randwick on Friday in Raikkonen.

Raikkonen wins by daylight at Randwick - image Bradley Photography

Trained by Bjorn Baker and ridden by Chad Schofield, Raikkonen blitzed his rivals to win the Benchmark 64 event over 1250m by four lengths and has now two of three starts earning just over $106,000 in prizemoney.

Advertisement

A half-brother to stakes-placed Crockett, Raikkonen was a $180,000 purchase for Darby Racing when consigned by Blake Ryan Racing to the 2023 Inglis Ready2Race Sale after being passed in when offered by Arrowfield Stud at the 2023 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.

Bred by Arrowfield Pastoral, Planette Thoroughbred, and Belford Productions, Raikkonen is the fourth winner from as many to race for the unraced Street Cry (IRE) mare Tuusula, a sister to Group I MRC One Thousand Guineas winner Stay With Me out of the 5-time Group I winner Miss Finland.

Tuusula has a yearling colt by St Mark's Basilica (FR) and missed last spring.

The Miss Finland family has many offshoots and has several entries in upcoming sales.

Click to see the pedigree links.

Advertisment

Race Result - James Squire (Bm64) 1250m

Randwick-Kensington Track: Good(4) Time: 1:12.48
1
Raikkonen
- 3g Shalaa (IRE) x Tuusula (AUS) (Street Cry (IRE))
Tnr: Bjorn Baker Rdr: C Schofield 60
2
4.1
Harry's Bar
- 4m Harry Angel (IRE) x Audacious Choice (AUS) (Redoute's Choice (AUS))
Tnr: Paul Murray Rdr: Zac Wadick 58
3
5.5
Siovy Dane
- 4m Sioux Nation (USA) x Dane Blazer (AUS) (Danehill (USA))
Tnr: Robert Quinn Rdr: Molly Bourke 53.5
4
6.9
One Last Shot
- 4g All Too Hard (AUS) x Able (AUS) (Northern Meteor (AUS))
Tnr: G Ryan & S Alexiou Rdr: Tom Sherry 61
5
8.2
Chevron
- 4g Spieth (NZ) x Great Gal (AUS) (All American (AUS))
Tnr: Ms K Buchanan Rdr: Anna Roper 59.5
6
9.3
Manwe
- 4g Kementari (AUS) x With Care (AUS) (Bernardini (USA))
Tnr: A J Cummings Rdr: Zac Lloyd 61
7
12.3
Dylan's Lad
- 4g Shalaa (IRE) x Dylan's Deeva (AUS) (Dylan Thomas (IRE))
Tnr: Mike Cattell Rdr: K S Latham 56.5
8
12.5
Red Hot Lizzie
- 4m Hellbent (AUS) x Anna Lizzie (AUS) (Mearas (AUS))
Tnr: C Maher Rdr: Tim Clark 59
More Reading...
Gin a Tonic Dominates MM 3YO and 4YO Victorian Classic
The $175,000 Magic Millions Victorian 3YO and 4YO Classic (1200m) at Caulfield on Saturday produced a dominant winner in Gin a Tonic, shining the spotlight on his half-brother by Ole Kirk to be offered at Magic Millions next month.
Sword of State Yearlings to Lure Buyers to Karaka
Cambridge Stud stallion Sword Of State was represented by yet another highly promising two-year-old when the Bjorn Baker-trained Warwoven ran out an impressive winner of the TAB Plate (1000m) at Randwick on Saturday.
Sires With Winners - Sunday December 21
Here is the full list of 49 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Sires With Winners - Saturday December 20
Here is the full list of 98 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Grafterburners Solidifies Magic Millions Sunlight Favouritism
Going three straight this time in and securing his first black type victory, the Listed BRC Gold Edition Plate (1200m) victory by Kelly Schweida’s 3yo Graff colt Grafterburners further enhanced his chances leading into the $3m TAB Magic Millions Sunlight Classic (1100m).
Apulia Unleashes Devastating Perth Cup Trial
Lightly raced five year old entire Apulia produced one of the best Perth Cup trials seen in years when he produced a finish Bernborough himself would have admired to take the weight for age G2 Ted Van Heemst Stakes at Ascot.
Widden Fairytale - Unit Five Delivers in $250,000 MM Victoria 2YO
There was a real mixture of tears and happiness for everyone at Widden Stud when the two year-old Supido colt named for the late Stud Manager David Merrick made a winning debut in the $250,000 Magic Millions Victoria 2YO Classic (1100m).
Hellbent Gelding Delivers Milestone 100th Win for Mark Newnham
Mark Newnham reached a significant milestone on Saturday at Sha Tin as leading Four-Year-Old Classic Series prospect, Invincible Ibis took another step towards the HK$13 million Hong Kong Classic Mile (1600m) – the opening leg of the three race series on February 1.
First HK Winner for Sebring Sun
Bargain priced Glenthorne Park based sire Sebring Sun had his first winner in Hong Kong on Saturday when The Red Hare saluted at Sha Tin.
Raikkonen Dominates from the Front
After stumbling out of the barriers, Raikkonen picked himself up to make all the running in the $100,000 Kia Ora Prague Maiden Plate (1200m) at Canterbury on Wednesday.