Tuesday 27 July 2010
SHIMRAAN joins Grand Prix de Paris winner Behkabad and Prix de Diane heroine Sarafina as possible members of the Aga Khan Studs Arc de Triomphe squad thanks to his stylish win in Sunday’s Gr 2 Prix Eugene Adam. The colt only made his racing debut in May and has quickly made his name as a top-class middle-distance performer with a win and a narrow second in the Listed Prix de l’Avre on his first two outings over his favoured mile and a half trip. The Prix Eugène Adam, also known as the Grand Prix of Maisons-Laffitte, is contested over the shorter distance of ten furlongs but this proved to be no problem for SHIMRAAN. After racing in the rear, the colt changed gear two furlongs from home and stormed to the head of the field before running on strongly to the line.
“He’s a mile and a half horse really,” commented trainer Alain de Royer Dupré, “but his class enabled him to win over 2000 metres today. As a son of Rainbow Quest, he should adapt naturally to softer ground.” Royer Dupré went on to confirm that the colt could have raced in the Gr 1 Grand Prix de Paris which was won by fellow Aga Khan representative Behkabad, before adding, “He now has plenty of options, including the biggest Group 1 of all!” SHIMRAAN’s combination of stamina and speed means that races such as the Gr 1 Champion Stakes will also come into consideration.
SHIMRAAN is the first offspring of his winning dam Shemriyna and he comes from a very current family as his great granddam, Prix de Diane scorer Shemaka, is also the dam of dual Gr 3 winner SHEMIMA and the granddam of Gr 3 winner SHEMIYLA, both by Dalakhani.
Updated on 27/07/2010.
