Group 1 star Shalaa from family of Grade 1 sire

SHALAA (IRE) - 2013 bay horse

The early Invincible Spirit (by Green Desert) stallions include classic sire Lawman, Group 1 sire I Am Invincible and and several others who have sired stakes winners, notably 2018 freshman sires Kingman and Charm Spirit, which augurs well for the prospects of the increasing number of his sons who are taking up stud roles.

Shalaa was one of the star juveniles of 2015, a dual Group 1 winner over six furlongs, rated 123p by Timeform and looking every inch a potential Group 1 Commonwealth Cup hero of 2016. Sadly, he missed a full year off the track.​

His return to action was a winning one, but although he was sent off joint-favourite for the Group 1 Qipco British Champions Sprint Stakes on what was to be his final start, that outing came just two weeks later. American commentators talk of a 'bounce' effect, where the second run back after a lengthy absence can be disappointing, and that may have been a factor.

It would have been fun to see Shalaa race as a four-year-old but, instead, he joined the team at Haras de Bouquetot in France and his first book of mares included the dual Group 1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe heroine Treve, whose daughter is one of 103 registered foals for him in 2018.

The best of several winners out of Grade 3-placed Ghurra (by War Chant), he is out of a half-sister to the Group 1 Middle Park Stakes winner Hayil (by Dayjur), to a string of blacktype earners and also to Abyat (by Shadeed), a mare whose Group 2-winning grandson Dragon Pulse (by Kyllachy) has sired a lot of mostly minor winners and just three blacktype scorers from his early crops.

Shalaa's grandam is the speedy stakes-placed winner Futuh (by Diesis) and that mare is a half-sister to the stakes-winning dam of dual Grade 1 scorer Wild Rush (by Wild Again), sire of the multiple Grade 1 stars Dream Rush, Hollywood Story, Stellar Jayne and Transcend, and of triple Canadian champion Judiths Wild Rush, among others of note.

There are many other stakes and graded winners to be found in the branches of the third generation of the family, but more eye-catching is the inbreeding in his pedigree.

The 3x3 to Danzig (by Northern Dancer) is easily apparent, but the broodmare sires of his parents are the full-brothers Kris and Diesis, thereby making him inbred 4x4 to Sharpen Up (by Atan) and to Doubly Sure (by Reliance). Sir Gaylord (by Turn-To) appears twice in the fifth generation, which is far back and will be off the chart of any of his progeny.

It is not possible to know if that will have any meaningful effect on his prospects as a stallion, although it does make it likely that quite a few of his offspring will also show some inbreeding within the first four generations of their pedigrees. Shalaa looks a likely source of high-class sprinters and milers, with some who stay 10 furlongs.

SHALAA (IRE) – b.2013 – Invincible Spirit – Ghurra, 6 wins inc Prix Morny (Gr1), Middle Park Stakes (Gr1), July Stakes (Gr2), Richmond Stakes (Gr2), Bengough Stakes (Gr3). Sire in France. First foals in 2018.

FOALS CATALOGUED:
Bf - Al Mas (by King's Best)     Arqana     December     not sold
Bc - Aquamerica (by Lonhro)     Arqana     December     withdrawn
Bc - Besotted (by Dutch Art)     Tattersalls     November     185,000gns
Bf - Elizabelle (by Westerner)     Tattersalls     November     not sold
Bc - Fascination (by Galileo)     Goffs     November     withdrawn
Bf - Full Mandate (by Acclamation)     Tattersalls     November     160,000gns
Bc - Gaazaal (by Iffraaj)     Goffs     November     not sold
Bc - Hat (by Hat Trick)     Goffs     November     €125,000
Bf - Holy Freud (by Freud)     Goffs     November     €90,000
Bc - Inner Sea (by Henrythenavigator)     Tattersalls     November     25,000gns
Bf - Janine’s Approval (by Approve)     Tattersalls     November     68,000gns
Bc - La Pedrera (by Danehill Dancer)     Arqana     December     €110,000
Bc - Las Brisas (by Shamardal)     Goffs     November     €50,000
Bc - Last Tango (by Peintre Celebre)     Tattersalls     November     100,000gns
Bf - Luna Tune (by Green Tune)     Arqana     December     €26,000
Bc - Maredska (by Footstepsinthesand)     Arqana     December     not sold
Bc - Mathool (by Alhaarth)     Goffs     November     €30,000 (p/s)
Bc - Mistress Greeley (by Mr Greeley)     Arqana     December     €45,000
Bf - Mystic Image (by Distorted Humor)     Tattersalls     November     40,000gns
Bc - Perle Noire (by King's Best)     Arqana     December     not sold
Bc - Present Danger (by Cadeaux Genereux)     Tattersalls     November     50,000gns
Bf - Rakiza (by Elnadim)     Tattersalls     November     130,000gns
Bf - Sarlisa (by Rainbow Quest)     Tattersalls     November     not sold
Bf - Senderlea (by Giant's Causeway)     Arqana     December     not sold
Bc - Seven Magicians (by Silver Hawk)     Tattersalls     November     25,000gns
Bc - Shim Sham (by Danehill Dancer)     Goffs     November     not sold
Bf - Snowy Amour (by Azamour)     Arqana     December     ​€40,000
Bc - Souville (by Dalakhani)     Tattersalls     November     50,000gns
Bc - Summer Collection (by Teofilo)     Tattersalls     November     ​240,000gns