Al Shaqab set introductory price for Shalaa

High-class sprinter Shalaa will stand at a fee of €27,500 during his first season at owner Al Shaqab's stud Haras de Bouquetot in France. The John Gosden-trained son of Invincible Spirit won five times as a juvenile, including when notching a Group 1 double in the Prix Morny and Middle Park Stakes.

He had earlier recorded Group 2 victories in the July Stakes and Richmond Stakes as well as running out a comfortable winner of a Newmarket maiden. He made a winning return at three this year in the Group 3 Bengough Stakes at Ascot.

Benoit Jeffroy, stud manager at Haras de Bouquetot, said: "We are delighted to have a champion two-year-old with such credentials joining our roster at Haras de Bouquetot.

"There has already been a huge international demand for Shalaa, enabling us to be selective on his first book of mares. We strongly recommend breeders to send their applications early to avoid any disappointment."

Al Shaqab has also released the 2017 fees for its other stallions, with Olympic Glory, whose first crop of foals are due to sell at the upcoming sales, remaining unchanged at €15,000. Also remaining unchanged in 2017 is The Wow Signal, with the son of Starspangledbanner set to stand his second northern hemisphere breeding season at €8,000.

Planteur and Style Vendome will both be represented by their first crop of two-year-olds in 2017 and have had their fees adjusted ahead of next year's breeding season. Planteur will stand at €4,000 - down from €6,000 - and Style Vendome will stand at €5,000, down from €7,000.

On the price adjustments, Jeffroy said: "We want to give our two promising stallions the best chances coming into their fourth season at stud. Al Shaqab has supported them both, sending a number of its best mares to them and in the sales ring, purchasing both the top prices for Planteur and Style Vendome.

"We have a number of very exciting racing prospects by each of these stallions and are now looking forward to seeing their two-year-olds at work."

National Stud resident Toronado is another of Al Shaqab's stallions to stand at a changed fee in 2017, it being reduced for his third season at stud from £15,000 to £12,500.