Shalabiya draws strong praise ahead of Northland Breeders’ Stakes

Exciting three-year-old Shalabiya (NZ) (Brazen Beau) will head to Ruakaka on Saturday as the $2.10 favourite for the Gr.3 Cambridge Stud Northland Breeders’ Stakes (1200m), but the jockey who has been aboard for her impressive start to racing will be in the opposition camp.

Warren Kennedy is committed to Cambridge Stud’s Group One-performed State Of Valour (NZ) (Sword Of State) ($14) in the three-year-old feature, paving the way for Michael McNab to take the ride on Shalabiya.

Kennedy may be among Shalabiya’s opposition on Saturday, but having experienced her ability first-hand, he knows better than most just how difficult she will be to beat.

“It was as impressive as it looked,” Kennedy said of her maiden victory over the course and distance a fortnight ago. “She really gave me a good feel.

“The ability she has to jump and go forward, get a spot, then drop the bit and relax is amazing. Then later in the race she showed an exceptional turn of foot. She has oodles of class about her.”

Shalabiya is out of the O’Reilly mare Gracehill, making her a half-sister to Crocetti, whose nine victories include the Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) and Gr.1 Railway (1200m).

Kennedy knows Crocetti particularly well and believes Shalabiya compares favourably with the star galloper at the corresponding stage of their careers.

“I spoke to Daniel Nakhle (owner-breeder) after her maiden victory, and I said to him the only comparison I can give you is Crocetti, at the same point of their careers as three-year-olds,” he said.

“I think she gave me a better feel. She is more tractable and has a better turn of foot, whereas Crocetti was more of an up-and-go forward horse.

“So, here’s hoping she could be better than him.”

Kennedy will get a close-up view of Shalabiya on Saturday aboard State Of Valour, who provides him with a strong hand of his own in the three-year-old feature.

“I thought his trial at Ruakaka was very good,” Kennedy said.

“It was August 1 and he was the only three-year-old in that trial, so he was basically a two-year-old running against all those nice older horses.

“We just wanted to get his fitness level up and I thought he applied himself well. He stuck to his guns and did everything we wanted him to do.

“He is Group One-performed. It is a pity about his draw (12) but he has come in this term a little bit better, he is more tractable. He is not that up-and-run type of horse he was as a two-year-old. He is now a bit more relaxed.

“He is a horse that is still finding himself, but he will be in with a shout on Saturday.”

Kennedy also got a first-hand glimpse at one of his favourite mounts when Crocetti cruised past State Of Valour to win their recent Ruakaka trial, with Kennedy aboard the runner-up.
Crocetti is likely to make his raceday return in the Gr.2 Waikato Stud Foxbridge Plate (1200m) at Te Rapa on Saturday week before progressing to the Gr.1 Proisir Plate (1400m) on September 5, for which he is a $10 fourth favourite.

“I was just riding my trial, and I saw those blue colours come by me and he was just coasting,” Kennedy said.

“He looked like he enjoyed himself and he’s in a better space than he was last prep. He just wasn’t himself in those last few runs.

“We all know he is quality, so he will probably head to the Foxbridge Plate as a prep run for the Proisir Plate, but that is all weather dependent, so here’s hoping we get a few sunny days.

“He has that natural pace about him with that huge action, however, he no longer has that gate speed, that initial burst that you need for those 1200m races,” he said.

“I think the 1400m will be right up his alley. That will most likely be his niche now.

“He could probably stretch over a bit further. As a three-year-old, he won the 2000 Guineas at a mile.”

Kennedy, who claimed the New Zealand jockeys’ premiership in the 2023-24 season with 140 wins, is also looking forward to stepping up his workload this term after taking a more measured approach over the past two.

“I am looking to travel a bit more this season,” he said. “I had a bit of a break the last two, so I’m feeling a bit bored.

“I want to get up and going and ride as many races as I can and get as many winners as I can, but obviously Group One races are the goal.”