By Tom Frary
Tried in the G1 1000 Guineas last May, Aljazzi was 10th in that Newmarket Classic before headinng to Haydock to capture the Listed Dick Hern Fillies' S. also over a mile in August. Limited to only two more outings at three, the bay was fourth in the G3 Denny Cordell Lavarack & Lanwades Stud Fillies S. over an extended nine furlongs at Gowran Park the following month and ninth in the Listed Gillies Fillies' S. attempting 10 furlongs on soft ground at Doncaster in November. Returning at this trip to take Kempton's Listed Snowdrop Fillies' S. Apr. 15, the homebred failed to see out the extra furlong of the G2 Dahlia S. when fifth in that Newmarket contest May 7 before outrunning her 40-1 odds when second in the G2 Duke of Cambridge S. at Royal Ascot June 21. That meant that bar her Guineas effort, only Qemah (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}) had beaten her at this trip so far in her career but the punters remained unconvinced and sent her off only third best in the market.
Held up in rear racing keenly after a tardy start, Aljazzi needed rousting along at the end of the back straight and needed to be kept up to her work to close down the outer once straightened for home. When she hit her stride, it was over as soon as she struck the front approaching the furlong pole and she powered up the incline to put the solid yardstick Nathra firmly in her place. “The plan was to sit a bit closer to the pace, but she hasn't run for over two months and she was a bit rusty early on,” jockey Andrea Atzeni said. “I left her alone and she likes to pass horses anyway. She picked up really well. She's quite light and busy, so I think the two-month break suited her.”
Trainer Marco Botti will aim Aljazzi at the G1 Kingdom of Bahrain Sun Chariot S. at Newmarket Oct. 7. “She's definitely a filly who has got better as a four-year-old. She's more mature and stronger,” he commented. “The plan was to be a bit closer to the pace, but they went a genuine pace all the way and Andrea sat at the back and she picked up well. She's progressing and she's a nice filly to have in the yard. If she did well here the plan has always been to go straight to the Sun Chariot and I think that will be the plan.”
The first foal out of the Listed John Musker Fillies' S. winner Nouriya, Aljazzi descends from Shy Danceuse whose progeny list includes the Listed Oppenheim-Rennen scorer Shy Lady (Fr) (Kaldoun {Fr}). She in turn can boast four black-type winners among her own progeny, headed by the G1 St James's Palace S.-winning sire Zafeen (Fr) and the G3 Prix du Calvados winner Ya Hajar (GB) (Lycius). She is herself the dam of the Listed Patton S. winner and G3 Diamond S. runner-up Prince of All (GB) (Iffraaj {GB}). Nouriya's 2-year-old colt by Henrythenavigator is not currently named, while her yearling filly is by Australia (GB) and she also has a filly foal by Frankel (GB).
Saturday, Sandown, Britain
BETBRIGHT CASINO ATALANTA S.-G3, £65,000, SAN, 9-2, 3yo/up, f, 8fT, 1:40.64, gd.
1–ALJAZZI (GB), 127, f, 4, by Shamardal
1st Dam: Nouriya (GB) (MSW-Eng), by Danehill Dancer (Ire)
2nd Dam: Majestic Sakeena (Ire), by King's Best
3rd Dam: Shy Danceuse, by Groom Dancer
*1at Group win. O/B-Saleh Al Homaizi & Imad Al Sagar (GB); T-Marco Botti; J-Andrea Atzeni. £36,862. Lifetime Record: 10-4-1-0, $182,496. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Nathra (Ire), 127, f, 4, Iffraaj (GB)–Rada (Ire), by Danehill. (270,000gns Ylg '14 TAOCT). O-Abdullah Saeed Al Naboodah; B-Pier House Stud (IRE); T-John Gosden. £13,975.
3–Tisbutadream (Ire), 122, f, 3, Dream Ahead–Choose Me (Ire), by Choisir (Aus). (€100,000 Ylg '15 GOFORB; £400,000 3yo '17 GOFLON). O-King Power Racing Co Ltd; B-J F Tuthill (IRE); T-David Elsworth. £6,994.
Margins: 3, 1HF, 3/4. Odds: 4.50, 3.00, 7.00.
Also Ran: Opal Tiara (Ire), Intimation (GB), Dancing Breeze (Ire), Lbretha (Fr), Urban Fox (GB), Lincoln Rocks (GB), Greta G (Arg), Always Thankful (GB). Scratched: Somethingthrilling (GB), On Her Toes (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
