Strong home support for Shalaa as first yearlings come up for sale

The most expensive new stallion in Europe in 2017 was retired to stud not in Britain or Ireland, but in France. The unusual move came as Al Shaqab Racing sent Shalaa to its Normandy base of Haras de Bouquetot, and assigned him an opening fee of €27,500 – exceeding the introductory prices for Classic winners Awtaad, Harzand, New Bay and The Gurkha.

Shalaa's status as the dearest newcomer of the year was not unwarranted, as he was an outstanding two-year-old sprinter, winning the July Stakes, Richmond Stakes, Prix Morny and Middle Park Stakes, while at the end of an injury disrupted three-year-old season he landed the Bengough Stakes.

He also held significant appeal on pedigree as a son of Invincible Spirit, whose stallion sons were becoming more in demand thanks to the likes of I Am Invincible, Lawman and Zebedee; they are now must-have items for stud masters thanks to the achievements of Kingman with his first three-year-olds.

Shalaa is also out of Ghurra, a Grade 3-placed half-sister to Middle Park Stakes winner Hayil from the family of elite performers Dragon Pulse and Lewis Bay, and his 170,000gns yearling price-tag speaks to good conformation. There was also the promise of Al Shaqab supporting him with their own blue-chip mares.

The response from breeders in that first season confirmed that Shalaa had not been over-priced, as the 'fully booked' sign went up long before the covering season began. The resultant debut foals are now yearlings and the pedigrees of his lots available at auction this summer illustrate the high regard in which he is held.

There are 17 on offer at Arqana August from Saturday until Monday and two more in the V2 section of the sale on Tuesday. They include a three-parts sister to National Defense, a filly out of multiple Grade 2 winner Naissance Royale and a colt out of African Skies, all from Ecurie des Monceaux.

There are another ten to choose from at the Goffs UK Premier Yearling Sale later in the month, including a filly with a very striking pedigree update – her two-year-old half-sister Nina Bailarina won a Newmarket novice stakes by five lengths this month – as well as a half-sister to Group 1-placed Sarkiyla.

Reflecting on Shalaa and his career at Bouquetot, Al Shaqab's Sebastien Desmontils says: “He's always stood out as an imposing specimen and has made a good impression on everyone who has come to see him. He has great conformation, walks beautifully and has lots of quality in his coat and head.

“He's a horse with great attitude who’s always been easy to take care of, whether in training or at the stud.”

Those breeders who were won over by Shalaa's good looks helped ensure he has covered top-notch mares, while by letting down into a picture-perfect stallion and exhibiting an admirably even-tempered outlook he no doubt encouraged Al Shaqab to send him more and better mares of their own.

“He's covered full books of more than 150 mares in each of his years at Bouquetot, and probably received the highest quality book ever covered by a first-crop sire in France,” says Desmontils. “The mares came from Ireland, Britain and France in almost equal number.

“Treve is one among 17 Group 1 performers and 22 dams of Group 1 performers covered in his first two seasons, a number that also includes Breeders' Cup winners Mizdirection and Zagora, multiple Group 1 winners Qemah and La Cressonniere and the dams of Avenir Certain and The Fugue.

“Once again this season, Shalaa has been strongly supported by breeders from all over Europe with 173 mares covered. Al Shaqab Racing and our associates have sent him around 40 mares including Grade 1 winner Shotgun Gulch, the dam of black-type horses Watan and Rabdan, Group 1 runner-up Zghorta Dance and so on.”

Shalaa in his racing pompCredit: Cranhamphoto.com

Shalaa has been receiving plenty of repeat custom on the back of breeders liking what they have seen of his early stock, the good vibes also translating into good sales for his foals last winter, when 19 sold for an average of around £88,000 with a high of 240,000gns paid by Broadhurst Agency for a son of the Teofilo mare Summer Collection. That colt is entered in Tattersalls October Book 1.

“Shalaa really stamps his stock,” says Desmontils. “They're all bay like him and we can pick out his youngsters in the paddocks just by looking at their heads!

“Like their father, his progeny usually have substance with depth and great skin. Now we just have to hope they'll be as precocious and consistent on the track as their sire, but we can be optimistic with Shalaa being by Invincible Spirit, a proven sire of sires in both hemispheres.”

As indicated by some of the mares previously mentioned, Shalaa will be assisted in establishing himself as a sire of note by some exceptionally well bred two-year-olds bred and owned by Al Shaqab.

The standout among the operation's 14 homebreds by the sire is the filly out of dual Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe heroine Treve, already given the auspicious name of Paris. “She's doing really well, she’s a beautiful filly with lots of class,” reports Desmontils. “She's not been allocated to a trainer yet.”

The group also includes colts out of Prix Saint-Alary second and Prix de Diane third Rjwa and Prix de Malleret winner Al Wathna, a filly out of Vinery Madison Stakes victress Shotgun Gulch and a half-sister to multiple Group 1 heroine The Fugue.

Desmontils explains that the yearlings will be split between British and French trainers, with decisions not yet finalised.

They are sure to go to leading stables, though, so anyone buying a Shalaa yearling in the coming weeks and months should find themselves in good company next year.

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