Shangri La Express, a son of Yulong’s first-season sire Alabama Express, stamped himself as a serious colt with another dominant performance, winning the $1 million Golden Gift.
Shangri caps super week for Alabama Express
Yulong Stud’s first-season sire, Alabama Express, has made a dream start to his new career; Cup Week has also proven a happy hunting ground for the son of Redoute’s Choice. On Thursday, Karavas gave Alabama Express his first stakes winner in the G3 Ottawa S. and on Saturday at Rosehill, his smart son Shangri La Express kept his unbeaten record intact with a tremendous performance in the Inglis Golden Gift.
The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained 2-year-old was an impressive victor of the Kirkham Plate on debut and backed that effort up with a 1.19l success over Rue De Royale (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) and Volatile (Snitzel) when ridden by Regan Bayliss, in the $1 million feature.
Bayliss told 7HorseRacing, “He (Shangri La Express) is a super colt. He’s put the writing on the wall in his two starts. It’s a scorching day (Saturday) here as well, can all feel, and Shangri La Express actually melted in the mounting yard and behind the barrier; he got really hot and bothered.
“But he’s very good to overcome that and a wide barrier. I am quite convinced we haven’t seen the best of Shangri La Express. He’s open to further improvement. We’ll see a nice colt in the autumn.”
“I am quite convinced we haven’t seen the best of Shangri La Express, he’s open to further improvement. We’ll see a nice colt in the autumn.” – Regan Bayliss
Shangri La Express is from the Lonhro mare Sent From Above, a winner over 900 metres. The colt was a $220,000 purchase by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott Racing and Kestrel Thoroughbreds when offered by Yulong Stud at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
This is an edited version of the TTR Aus NZ article written by Keely Mckitterick
