Five weeks ago, Shangri La Boy hadn’t even debuted. Now, trainer Adrian Bott believes the talented colt could become a Group 1 winner in Saturday’s $2 million Spring Champion Stakes at Randwick.
The three-year-old son of Pierro will contest the 2000m feature just 38 days after his first race start, which produced a third placing at Canterbury.
He has since won at Rosehill and then led throughout in the Group 3 Gloaming Stakes (1800m) to book his spot in the Spring Champion.
“He was excellent there last start in the Gloaming, he was up in grade relatively quickly and up in trip, but it seemed like a dominant performance,” Bott said.
A half-brother to Golden Slipper placegetter Storm Boy, Shangri La Boy is bred to stay.
“He seems in great shape and has plenty of natural staying ability,” Bott said.
He’ll face 17 rivals, including stablemate Champagne Hero and Joe Pride’s Godolphin colt, Attica.