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King Shalaa scores on debut at La Teste on Wednesday.
Arrowfield Stud shuttler Shalaa (Invincible Spirit) sired his fifth first crop winner on Wednesday when his son King Shalaa (2 c ex Baki by Turtle Bowl) broke his maiden on debut in the Prix du Chateau de Portets (1600m) at La Teste De Buch.
Trained by Francois Rohaut, King Shalaa, who started the 5-2 favourite, defeated Normandy Beech (Le Havre) by a length and a half with Trust On Him (Elvstroem) another neck back in third.
Bought for €110,000 by Haras de Victot from the draft of Etreham at last year's Arqana October Yearling Sale, King Shalaa becomes the second winner for his dam, the dual winner Baki (Turtle Bowl) who has also produced the French Listed winner Waltham (Wootton Bassett). His second dam is Benzolina (Second Empire) who produced six winners including the Listed winners Baine (Country Reel) who was also runner-up in the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches (Gr 1, 1600m), Wajnah (Redoute's Choice) and Bassamba (American Post).
The colt's fourth dam is Bamieres (Riverman), dam of Group 1 winner Balbonella (Gay Mecene) who in turn produced dual Group 1 winner and former Widden Stud shuttler Anabaa (Danzig).
Shalaa's other winners are Cherie Amour, Shalaalaa, No Speak Alexander and Cream Of The Crop, who provided her sire with his fourth winner on Tuesday. Shalaa's first European-bred crop also includes the stakes-placed Saeiqa who ran third in the Coventry Stakes (Gr 2, 6f) at Royal Ascot. He will stand his fourth season in Australia for an unchanged fee of $33,000 (inc GST) at Arrowfield Stud this spring.
