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No Speak Alexander wins Athasi Stakes on Monday
No Speak Alexander (3 f ex Rapacity Alexander by Dandy Man) made a winning start to her three-year-old season when landing Monday’s Athasi Stakes (Gr 3, 7f) at the Curragh and in doing so became the third stakes winner for her sire Shalaa (Invincible Spirit), who shuttles to Arrowfield Stud.
No Speak Alexander settled down in second between runners. With three furlongs left to travel, she was asked to quicken and took the lead with 200 metres to travel and went on to score by a length and a half from her Jessica Harrington-trained stablemate Zaffy’s Pride (Pride Of Dubai). Soul Search (Zoffany) was another half a length away in third.
The filly could now head towards the Irish 1,000 Guineas (Gr 1, 1m).
"She was good, she's been working like that and I was keen to ride her over the other," said winning jockey Shane Foley.
"She's a filly that I thought might have run well in the French Guineas, but we didn't have her in it.
"She's probably entitled to come back for the Irish Guineas now after that. She likes that bit of juice in the ground."
No Speak Alexander is out of the Listed winner Rapacity Alexander (Dandy Man) who is herself a sister to Hong Kong Sprint (Gr 1, 1200m) winner Peniaphobia (Dandy Man). Her Mastercraftsman (Danehill Dancer) half-sister was sold for 75,000gns to Foursome Thoroughbreds at last year’s Tattersalls October Yearling Sale Book 2 and is yet to be named.
Shalaa’s other two stakes winners are Magic Millions 2YO Classic (RL, 1200m) and dual Group 3 winner Shaquero and Listed winning King Shalaa. He has also produced five stakes placegetters in Hunnam, Legal Attack, Tayla’s Moment, Nice For What and Saeiqa. Shalaa is sitting third in the leading first season sires table in Australia by earnings and fifth in the table by winners.
Shalaa covered a book of 170 mares at Arrowfield Stud last year and his 2021 fee has been set at $44,000 (inc GST), up from $33,000 (inc GST) last year.
No Speak Alexander provides @Jessica_Racing with a 1-2 in the @coolmorestud Circus Maximus EBF Athasi Stakes (Group 3). pic.twitter.com/b5vmuOHu3b
— The Curragh Racecourse (@curraghrace) May 3, 2021
