Shalaa (IRE) sure can get an early runner, and he has another one in Semillion who made a winning career debut in Saturday’s $400,000 Inglis Banner (RL) at Moonee Valley.
Ridden by Jye McNeil for Michael, Wayne and John Hawkes, Semillion rode the early speed and was strong late to defeat the Sebring filly Lady Harlem by two lengths with the $2.1million Exceed And Excel colt Nobel a length back in third.
McNeil said the son of Shalaa (IRE) did not put a foot wrong.
“He’s the ultimate professional is the best way to describe him, McNeil said.
“He knew what he had to do today, and he put himself in the best possible position and acquitted himself really well. He’s got the ability to match.”
Wayne Hawkes said the stable was expecting Semillion to be competitive on debut.
“At the end of the day you know what you’ve got, and I wasn’t worried about the odds,” he said.
"It is all about how they jump and he had flown a couple of times in his jump-outs.
“We were quietly confident and one thing we know is that it is a restricted race and so it doesn’t have the homebreds and the Magic Millions horses. Being an Inglis race if you think you can win you know you don’t have all the opposition like in a Maribyrnong or something like that.
“He did a really good job and he flew the start. He wasn’t in a hurry to get to the front, he just took his time. It was a really good ride.
“This is the end of the prep. He’s strong in the shoulder, and he’s strong in behind, but he’s quite narrow in the middle. I reckon winning a $400,000 race on Cox Plate Day, he’s earned a break.”
Senillion was purchased by International Thoroughbred Solutions (FBAA) for $300,000 out of the Blue Gum Farm draft at the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale.
Bred by Robert Crabtree, he is the second winner from as many to race out of the Moonee Valley winner Sistonic.
A daughter of Bel Esprit, Sistonic is a sister to stakes-winner Iconic and a three-quarter sister to Black Caviar and Naturale, the dam of Ole Kirk.
After missing in 2019, Sistonic foaled a Blue Point (IRE) colt on August 2.
Semillion becomes the fourth stakes-winner for Arrowfield Stud’s Shalaa (IRE), who stands for a fee of $44,000 this season.
