The sprinting scene in 2016 has been all the poorer for the absence of last year's standard-setting juvenile Shalaa (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), but he is finally able to reward the patience of Al Shaqab Racing and John Gosden in the G3 John Guest Bengough S. at Ascot on Saturday. Successful in the G1 Prix Morny and G1 Middle Park S. last season, the G1 QIPCO British Champions Sprint is still on the agenda if he can come though this reintroduction and give the right signals. “It's great to see him back. John's very happy with him and we all know it's been a long time off,” the owners's racing manager said Harry Herbert said. “It was a pretty nasty injury, but it says so much for all those around him, John and his team, and also Duncan Moir, who is Al Shaqab's vet, who have done so much to get him back and get back to a scenario where we are going to see him in action again. For quite a long while it looked highly unlikely.” Shalaa is up against the clock with Champions Day so close, but Herbert is optimistic he can make the gig. “It's all about a fortnight's time. That's the key thing,” he added. “I hope very much he will win and run a big race, but this is trying to put him absolutely spot on for the Champions Day Sprint.” Nicholas Wrigley and Kevin Hart's Don't Touch (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}) is a fair yardstick, having won a competitive renewal of Salisbury's Listed Cathedral S. over this trip June 12 before finishing 16th in Newmarket's G1 July Cup last time July 9.
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