Arguably Australia’s most talented maiden, frustrating three year-old Shalatin was once again able to snatch defeat from a certain victory when going down at Goulburn on Sunday as a short priced favourite to a first starter by Star Turn.
This time last year the Joe Pride trained Shalatin was on the Golden Slipper trail with a second in the Golden Gift and third in the Group II ATC Todman Stakes ultimately taking him to the Group I ATC Sires Produce Stakes where he finished sixth to Fireburn.
Gelded after two winless runs in the spring, Shalatin resumed in December with a second at Canterbury followed by two more second placings and then a last start fourth at Warwick Farm.
Dropped in grade to a country maiden over 1200m on Sunday with Nash Rawiller to ride, Shalatin was again the top choice for punters, but sadly could not execute.
The son of Shalaa (IRE) was cuddled to the lead by Rawiller, but when the Peter Robl trained Hasten Delight dug in for the fight, Shalatin settled for his sixth second placing when missing by half a head.
Connections of Shalatin have banked over $280,000 from his efforts to date, so can take solace from the cash and he may well be one of those horses that when he does finally break the ice will get a taste for winning.
The winner Hasten Delight was well tuned at the trials and produced a tenacious effort first up so has a bright future.
A $180,000 Magic Millions purchase from the Edinglassie Stud draft for James Bester Bloodstock/ Upper Bloodstock, Hasten Delight is the second winner for Hostile Witness, a placed half-sister by Street Sense (USA) to stakes-winner Joku.
