Friday 31 May 2024
A winner on her seasonal debut in the Gr.3 Salsabil Stakes at Navan, EZELIYA showed great progression to win The Oaks at Epsom.
Positioned mid-pack by jockey Chris Hayes, the filly slipped comfortably into the lead at the entrance of the straight to win by three lengths.
Trainer Dermot Weld said after the race: 'She's a beautiful filly to train. She's not a big filly, but has a lot of quality and these races are all special.”
By Dubawi, EZELIYA is a daughter of Eziyra, herself a Group winner and placed in both the Irish and the Yorkshire Oaks. Eziyra is out of a half-sister to Enzeli, Estimate, Edabiya and Irish Oaks winner Ebadiyla. The family descends from the Boussac mare Tourzima, whose Classic winning descendants also include Akiyda, Sinndar, Darshaan and Dalakhani.
EZELIYA is a first winner of The Oaks for H.H. the Aga Khan, and becomes the 99th individual Group 1 winner for His Highness and Princess Zahra Aga Khan.
