Arrowfield Stud’s Shalaa (IRE) joined five other first crop stallions with five winners when Orbis Bloodstock’s Hunnam broke through for his maiden success over 1000m at Caulfield on Saturday.
Jye McNeil made his intentions clear early when making use of his inside barrier to drive Hunnam to the lead.
Kicking clear coming around the home turn, Hunnam was untroubled to defeat He's Xceptional (Xtravagant) by one and three-quarter lengths with a further one and a half lengths back to the favourite Cheerful Legend (Shalaa) in third in what was a first season sire trifecta.
Trained by Michael, Wayne and John Hawkes, Hunnam was making his fifth start and was coming off a third in the Listed Redoute’s Choice Stakes at Caulfield won by Najmaty.
“The team made the plan to roll forward if we began well enough today, which really suited the race,” McNeil said.
“The 1200 metres and the blinkers were the key to today’s performance and it was quite easy for him.
“They helped him travel better underneath me and he lifted when I asked. He travelled really comfortably so in the future he’ll be able to get over a bit more ground.”
Purchased by Redwall Bloodstock for $150,000 out of the Rushton Park draft at the 2019 Magic Millions National Weanling Sale, the son of Shalaa (IRE) returned a healthy profit when Ardross Bloodstock Pty Ltd went to $400,000 to secure him out of the Widden Stud draft at the Gold Coast in 2020.
Forest View Farm had bought Hunnum’s dam Skating On Ice for $95,000 out of the Holbrook Thoroughbreds draft at the 2019 National broodmare Sale when carrying the son of Shalaa (IRE).
A stakes-placed winner of eight races, Skating On Ice is now four for four. The daughter of Bradbury’s Luck has a yearling colt by Impending and was covered by Written by last spring.
Currently, the third leading first-crop sire on earnings, Shalaa (IRE) joins Frosted (USA), Star Turn, Sooboog, Flying Artie and Maurice (JPN) on five winners. They are all chasing Capitalist, who has eight individual winners to date.
