News

O'Gorman excited to showcase Shalaa colt following scintillating breeze

6th Oct 2023

A colt “every bit as good as Trumbull, who won multiple Stakes races and more than $650,000 in prizemoney’’ is set to be one of the stars of the show at Tuesday’s Inglis Ready2Race Sale.

So says respected horsewoman Mel O’Gorman, who couldn’t be happier with her nine-strong draft, headed by a Shalaa x Sista Act colt (lot 199) which topped Thursday’s final breeze up session at Hawkesbury.

The colt (pictured) ran a scintillating 10.16 seconds for his 200m breeze, making him the second-fastest of the entire catalogue behind a Showtime x Damselle colt (lot 67) of Tal Nolen which clocked 10.14secs at Seymour last month.

O’Gorman, whose draft is now parading at Riverside along with the rest of the 226-strong catalogue, described her Shalaa colt as “an utter professional’’.

“All along I thought he was the real deal and I knew he was special from day one, so what he did on the track at his breeze came as absolutely no surprise to me,’’ O’Gorman said.

“He’s an extremely forward, precocious and confident 2YO and he’s as good a colt as I’ve ever taken to a breeze up sale and given I’ve sold Trumbull who won multiple Stakes races, this horse is every bit as good as Trumbull and maybe better.

“From the minute I put a saddle on him he’s been a pleasure to train, he’s just so talented and I’m sure the buyers will understand what I’m talking about when they see him at Riverside.’’

It was another of O’Gorman’s draft – her Pierata x Belfast Bella colt (lot 31) - which ran the second-fastest breeze up time on Thursday of 10.29secs.

“He’s a lovely quality colt, so professional, a well-balanced and strong colt that gives the impression that he’ll improve further with time and distance,’’ O’Gorman said.

“Like the Shalaa colt, what he showed on the track yesterday came as absolutely no surprise because I know how good he is.’’

All 2YOs to be offered have now breezed ahead of Tuesday’s sale.

Vision, times and photos of every breeze is now available on the Inglis website and iPad app and parades are underway at Riverside.

To view the parade schedule CLICK HERE.

To view the catalogue CLICK HERE.

The Inglis Ready2Race Sale will begin at 11am on Tuesday and will again be broadcast on the Inglis website and Facebook page via Sale Day Live, which will be hosted by Jemma Cutting and Racing.com’s Jayne Ivil.

The broadcast will begin with a Preview Show from 10.30am.

Graduates of the sale continue to enjoy a stellar run, with eye-catching Spring performances from the likes of Libertad, Democracy Manifest, Strait Acer and Write Your Name, as well as promising 3YO winners Verdad, Pleasure Cruise, Allapercanto and Midnight Opal.