Monday 23 September 2024
As the winner of six races from eight starts in France, Eliyass was a highlight of the Aga Khan Studs 2023 Arqana Arc Sales draft. The son of Le Havre was purchased by Louis Le Metayer’s Astute Bloodstock for €330,000, and his new connections have been duly rewarded since the gelding arrived in Australia at the beginning of this year.
Now the winner of three Stakes races from three runs Down Under following his victory in the Gr.3 Kingston Town Stakes at Randwick on Saturday, Eliyass is firmly on track for the $750,000 Gr.1 Metropolitan on 5th October.
"It has always been the Metropolitan all the way through so it is most likely we will see Eliyass here again in two weeks' time," said his joint trainer Adrian Bott. "He is relatively well weighted (55kg) in that race and it's hard to bypass that race where he is favourite and on his home track. He's got nominations for the Caulfield Cup, Melbourne Cup, they're all in the frame and we'd love to get him there because he's an exciting stayer.”
This year’s Aga Khan Studs draft for the Arqana Arc Sale features four horses with similarly interesting profiles.
Lot 48 ELAMAZ is from the same family as Eliyass, and has also shown great consistency, winning four races and finishing runner-up three times on just seven starts to date. Already a Listed winner, he also most recently placed second in the Gr.2 Oettingen-Rennen at Baden-Baden.
Three-year-old Harzand colt SHAMARKAND (lot 31) boasts a similarly consistent profile, with four wins and three places to his name already including a Listed success and a Group placing on his most recent outing.
Lot 38 ZARIR is a Group 1 placed son of Frankel from the family of Zarak and Group-winning graduate Zeyrek. A four-time winner, he was second in the Gr.1 Prix Ganay earlier this year and was runner-up in the Gr.2 Prix Foy on 16th September.
Siyouni gelding DOLAYLI (lot 51) is the winner of six races and was placed third in the Gr.2 Prix du Muguet and fourth in the Gr.1 Prix Ispahan this spring. His half-brother Dilawar sold at this sale in 2022 and has since won at Stakes level for his new owners.
As well as Eliyass, last year’s Arc Sale graduates include Shartash, who went on to win a Listed race and be Group placed for Wathnan Racing.
