Written by Keely Mckitterick
Cover image courtesy of Country Racing Victoria
Tuesday, Day 1 of the famed May Racing Carnival at Warrnambool, played host to the $125,000 VOBIS Gold Strike over 1000 metres, the valuable event is part of the Super VOBIS program.
VOBIS Gold has been designed to encourage and reward owners to increase their earning potential, and breeders to support Victorian-based stallions.
VOBIS Gold carries additional bonuses over and above the $13 million available in Super VOBIS bonuses each season.
Connections of Rose Of Shalaa who won the VOBIS Gold Strike at Warrnambool | Image courtesy of Racing Victoria
The VOBIS program delivers valuable support to the Victorian breeding and racing industry.
The 2023 edition of the VOBIS Gold Strike saw the Matthew Williams-trained Rose Of Shalaa (Shalaa {Ire}) stride away to a comfortable victory with popular local hoop Dean Yendall aboard; in the process, she provided a valuable payday for her connections and a timely update for her sire Shalaa (Ire).
Shalaa has relocated to Victoria for the 2023 breeding season, where he will stand at Woodside Park Stud for $22,000 (inc GST) after spending six seasons at Arrowfield Stud.
Rose Of Shalaa winning the VOBIS Gold Strike at Warrnambool | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
Shalaa has sired 14 stakes winners, amongst them Shaquero, who won the R. Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic in addition to the G3 Breeders’ Plate and G3 Pago Pago S. as a 2-year-old.
The locally trained 2-year-old filly Rose Of Shalaa lined up for her second start at Warrnambool after being placed on debut at Terang last month.
In a tight betting market with little between the seven runners, Rose Of Shalaa had her fans for the 1000-metre scramble.
Jumping from an inside barrier, the filly showed good speed to settle herself behind Romantic Choice (Toronado {Ire}). Upon entering the straight Rose Of Shalaa was given her head and allowed to stride out with no traffic holding her up, the filly showed plenty of grit and sustained speed to hold off the Tony and Calvin McEvoy-trained Capulet (Extreme Choice) by 0.2l, the race-leader Romantic Choice managed to hold on for third 1.75l away.
Rose Of Shalaa’s trainer speaking after the race said, “That was super exciting; I was getting a little bit nervous late when the McEvoy horse (Capulet) charged. Rose Of Shalaa did well to kick off the corner when she got the split. She’s just done really well since Terang. With 2-year-olds, you got them, or you don’t. We knew we had her ready and ripe.
“With 2-year-olds, you got them, or you don’t. We knew we had her (Rose Of Shalaa) ready and ripe.” - Matthew Williams
“It’s always terrific getting a winner here. She’s always been a pretty sharp sort of filly, and we always had this race in the back of our minds for her from the day we bought her at the sales.
“This has been the goal, so we will reassess and see what to do with her, but she’s done her job.”
Winning jockey Dean Yendall was equally effusive in praise for the filly, “She (Rose Of Shalaa) went really well at Terang on debut, but she was eyeballing the starter in the barriers and was slow away, today she really improved and jumped cleanly.
“I was happy just to sit off the speed and knew I would get a run upon entering the straight. She’s going places; I know it’s only her second start, and she’s a 2-year-old, but I really liked how she went about things today.”
“She’s (Rose Of Shalaa's) going places; I know it’s only her second start, and she’s a 2-year-old, but I really liked how she went about things today (Tuesday).” - Dean Yendall
Rose Of Shalaa is the fourth foal from the High Chaparral (Ire) mare Arizona Girl. She was a winner of five races from 1850 to 2400 metres and is a half-sister to Reliable Team (NZ) (Reliable Man {GB}), who won the G2 HKJC Jockey Club Cup.
A family that has predominantly shown a penchant for getting over a trip with the outstanding Aquidity (NZ) (Avaray {Fr}), a 17-time winner who won such races as the G2 Herbert Power S. and G3 Queen’s Cup in addition to placings in the G1 BMW S., G1 Sydney Cup, G1 Caulfield Cup and G1 Queen Elizabeth S. on his CV.
Furthermore, this is the family of the classy G2 Moonee Valley Gold Cup winner, The Sportsman (NZ) (Kilimanjaro {GB}).
Rose Of Shalaa as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Rose Of Shalaa was a $90,000 yearling purchased by Matthew Williams Thoroughbred Training from the draft of Esker Lodge, who are listed as co-breeders of the filly, at the 2022 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale.
