Not seen since extending his enviable juvenile record in the G1 Middle Park S. at Newmarket in October, Shalaa returned in the same mood to use his customary speed to make all and stay firmly on track for the Oct. 15 G1 QIPCO British Champions Sprint S. Quickly at the fore under Frankie Dettori, the bay who also garnered the G1 Prix Morny, G2 July S. and G2 Richmond S. last term started to turn the screw inside the last quarter mile. Despite the strong effort of the filly Mehronissa, he was doing enough to hold on with his rider just pushing him out to the line. “He was only 80 per-cent and he doesn't do much at home, but he hasn't lost his spark so I was very pleased with that,” Dettori explained. “In the last 100 yards, he was tired but he was entitled to be. This should put him in good stead for the Champions Sprint at Ascot in two weeks' time.” Gosden added, “That was a great run, as it's been tough after a year off and the ground tested him today. The race will have done him good and he has some speed. I'm thrilled to have him back.” The dam, who was third in the GIII Wilshire H., is a half to seven stakes performers headed by another Middle Park hero in Hayil (Dayjur) and the GII Bernard Baruch H. runner-up Tamhid (Gulch). The third dam is the GI Frizette S. third Hardship who is also the granddam of the GI Metropolitan H. and G1 Carter H. winner Wild Rush (Wild Again) whose half-sister Rahy Rose (Rahy) is the dam of the GIII Tempted S. scorer Summer Raven (Summer Squall). She is herself the dam of three group winners headed by the GII Demoiselle and GII Galzelle S. heroine Lewis Bay (Bernadini). Also from the family of the G2 Futurity S.-winning sire Dragon Pulse (Ire) (Kyllachy {GB}), Ghurra has a yearling filly by High Chaparral (Ire) to come.
Saturday, Ascot, Britain
JOHN GUEST BENGOUGH S.-G3, £70,000, ASC, 10-1, 3yo/up, 6fT, 1:14.32, sf.
1–SHALAA (IRE), 127, c, 3, by Invincible Spirit (Ire)
1st Dam: Ghurra (GSP-US, $145,494), by War Chant
2nd Dam: Futuh, by Diesis (GB)
3rd Dam: Hardship, by Drone
(100,000gns Wlg '13 TATFOA; 170,000gns Ylg '14 TATOCT). O-Al Shaqab Racing; B-Mogeely Stud (IRE); T-John Gosden; J-Lanfranco Dettori. £39,697. Lifetime Record: Hwt. 2yo Colt-Eng & Fr, G1SW-Eng & Fr, 7-6-0-0, $687,834. Werk Nick Rating: C. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Mehronissa (GB), 125, f, 4, Iffraaj (GB)–Miss University, by Beau Genius. (65,000gns Ylg '13 TAOCT). O-Salem Rashid; B-Carmel Stud (GB); T-Ed Vaughan. £15,050.
3–Raucous (GB), 127, c, 3, Dream Ahead–Shyrl (GB), by Acclamation (GB). (100,000gns Ylg '14 TAOCT). O-Highclere Thoroughbred Racing (Melbourne); B-Saleh Al Homaizi & Imad Al Sagar (GB); T-William Haggas. £7,532.
Margins: NK, 1HF, NK. Odds: 1.75, 8.00, 10.00.
Also Ran: Don't Touch (GB), Outback Traveller (Ire), Mobsta (Ire), Ridge Ranger (Ire), Naadirr (Ire), Strath Burn (GB). Scratched: Windfast (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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