3 minute read
Speak No Alexander breaks maiden at Roscommon
The Jessica Harrington-trained Speak No Alexander (2 f ex Rapacity Alexander by Dandy Man) broke her maiden at the second time of asking with ultra impressive victory in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden (7.5f) at Roscommon on Tuesday and in the process became the third frist-crop winner for Arrowfield Stud shuttler Shalaa (Invincible Spirit).
Last seen finishing seventh behind subsequent Listed winner Frenetic (Kodiac) at Navan in June, the two-year-old filly showed an explosive turn of foot to beat pre-race favourite Divinely (Galileo) by a comprehensive six and a half lengths with another six lengths back to Dress Kode (Kodiac) in third.
Bred by Mountarmstrong Stud, the two-year-old filly is out of Listed-winning Dandy Man (Mozart) mare Rapacity Alexander, who is herself a sister to Hong Kong Sprint (Gr 1, 1200m) winner Peniaphobia (Dandy Man), while she is also a half-sister to Group 3-placed Safari Sunset (Fayruz).
Further back this is the same family as Group 1 winner Benvenue (Iffraaj), Group 3 winner Peace Offering (Victory Note) and Listed-winning duo Jazz Ballet (Jaazeiro) and Cutting Reef (Kris).
There was been much anticipation surrounding Shalaa's first runners in Europe and his first yearlings were well received in both hemispheres, with 65 yearlings in Europe selling for an aggregate of €7,420,000 at an average of €114,000 last year, with his most expensive yearling to sell being a colt who was bought by Narvick International for €600,000.
Meanwhile in Australia, Shalaa has been equally well-received, with 59 yearlings selling for a total of $9,786,500 at an average of $165,872 this year, while a colt who was purchased for $600,000 by John Sadler was the most expensive of his first crop to sell in the southern hemisphere.
The colt joins Cherie Amour and Shalaalaa as the stallion’s other winners, while Coventry Stakes (Gr 2, 6f) placegetter Saeiqa, also features among his first-crop. Shalaa will stand the 2020 season at Arrowfield Stud in the Hunter Valley for a fee of $33,000 (inc GST).
Lovely performance
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) July 7, 2020
Related to Hong Kong Group One winner Peniaphobia, No Speak Alexander shows a sparkling turn of foot to continue the fine form of @Jessica_Racing & Shane Foley with success second time out at @RoscommonRaces
Results https://t.co/sBcsavHpYf pic.twitter.com/TcwT3ixkyL
