Windsor Park sire SHAMEXPRESS (O’Reilly) has enjoyed a brilliant run of success this season, and with back-to-back Group winners the past fortnight among a raft of up-and-coming young gallopers, this Autumn has proven to be one of the best for the Gr.1 winning sprinter.
There is little doubt that first among equals currently for SHAMEXPRESS is Hong Kong’s sprinting star KA YING RISING, whose progression through the ranks has to all intents and purposes rendered him a Gr.1 winner in waiting.
Successful in five of seven race day starts and runnerup in his other two, KA YING RISING has lived up to his name, rising to every challenge his champion trainer David Hayes has put before him and at the weekend he cemented his class with his fourth consecutive victory in the Gr.3 Sha Tin Vase, running the 1200m journey in a slick 1:08 flat. KA YING RISING maintains a 100% Group winning rate for SHAMEXPRESS when crossed with mares by PER INCANTO with this ‘nick’ also responsible for producing Gr.2 winner SHAMUS.
With a strike rate of 71% winners to runners in Asia, KA YING RISING is leading the way for SHAMEXPRESS in that region together with LIM’S SALTORO, a young sprinter on the ascendency in Singapore. LIM’S SALTORO was a debut winner over 1100m at his first start last September and has now strung together six wins in seven starts for trainer Dan Meagher with his recent win over 1200m being his third success this Autumn.
In Australia this Autumn two fillies have proved victorious at Group level for SHAMEXPRESS, GRINZINGER BELLE in Melbourne and MARACANA, just a fortnight ago in Brisbane. Both racemares are trained by Danny O’Brien who guided their sire SHAMEXPRESS to Autumn Gr.1 glory in the marquee Newmarket Handicap at Flemington. The timing of her recent win could not have proven better for the progressive MARACANA, who following her success was sold at the Gold Coast National Broodmare Sale for $400,000.
Locally, six-times winners HIGHLIGHTER and Gr.1 runnerup EXPRESS YOURSELF have been excellent representatives for SHAMEXPRESS whose overall stakes winners to runners ratio is an impressive 5.5%. With his stock having sold to $700,000 at auction, SHAMEXPRESS represents a great proven option at a 2024 service fee of just $8,000+gst.
