3 minute read

King Shalaa leads throughout to take La Californie

Arrowfield shuttler Shalaa (Invincible Spirit) sired his second stakes winner on Sunday when the Francois Rohaut-trained King Shalaa (3 c ex Baki by Turtle Bowl) won the Prix de la Californie (Listed, 1600m) at Cagnes Sur Mer. 

King Shalaa jumped well and took the lead on settling down, setting a steady pace under jockey Pierre-Charles Boudot. Racing on the rail, King Shalaa was asked for his run with 400 metres left to go and he held off the challenge of Fort Payne (Rio de la Plata) to score by a half length. The favourite Summiter (Bated Breath) was another head back in third. 

Bred by his trainer, King Shalaa was sold to Haras de Victot for €110,000 at the 2019 Arqana Deauville October Yearling Sale. Now unbeaten in three career starts, the colt is a half-brother to Listed winner Waltham (Wootton Bassett), who races in Hong Kong as Packing Waltham. His dam is the dual winner Baki (Turtle Bowl), a half-sister to three stakes winners in Baine (Country Reel), Wajnah (Redoute’s Choice) and Bassamba (American Post). Further back this is the family of dual Group 1 winner and successful former Widden shuttler Anabaa (Danzig). 

King Shalaa joins Magic Millions 2YO Classic (RL, 1200m) winner Shaquero as Shalaa’s other stakes winner. The son of Invincible Spirit (Green Desert) has sired another five stakes horses in No Speak Alexander, Legal Attack, Tayla’s Moment, Nice For What and Saeiqa. He is currently sitting in second in the leading first season sires table in Australia behind Capitalist (Written Tycoon). 

Shalaa’s 2021 fee at Haras de Bouquetot is set at €15,000.