Monday 18 April 2011
AZAMOUR has enjoyed a spectacular week in Newmarket on both the Rowley Mile racecourse and Tattersalls sales ring followed by European Pattern wins over the weekend. On the Newmarket track, his son NATIVE KHAN confirmed his Guineas potential with a smooth victory in the Gr. 3 Craven Stakes on Thursday, and a day earlier his juvenile son topped the opening day of the Craven Breeze Up Sale when selling for 315,000 Guineas.
Already a Gr. 3 winner at two years old when he picked up the Solario Stakes at Sandown before finishing fourth in the Gr. 1 Racing Post Trophy, NATIVE KHAN was making his seasonal debut at the Craven meeting. He raced in behind the leaders for much of this Guineas trial and hit the front a furlong from home, staying on strongly to score by two lengths from second-placed Libranno. Ed Dunlop’s charge will now head towards the Gr. 1 2000 Guineas on 30th April.
Bred by Gilles and Aliette Forien at the Haras de la Reboursière et de Montaigu, NATIVE KHAN changed hands at ARQANA’s August yearling sale for 70,000 Euros and then at last year’s Craven Sale for 180,000 Guineas.
AZAMOUR shone at this year’s Craven Breeze Up Sale thanks to his son out of Polar Falcon mare Khayrat who was snapped up by Sir Robert Ogden and his racing manager Barry Simpson for 315,000 Guineas. He was the highest-priced youngster to pass through the ring on the opening day, and the second-top overall. Training plans have not yet been announced for the colt, which was consigned by Mocklershill Stud after being bought as a yearling by Margaret O’Toole for 58,000 Euros.
In addition to his Newmarket exploits, AZAMOUR celebrated a European Stakes double on Sunday through German-trained LINDENTHALER and Irish filly Siren’s Song. The former posted his credentials for the German Derby when winning the Gr. 3 Dr Busch Memorial by two and a half lengths. The son of AZAMOUR was winning his second Pattern contest after picking up a Listed race as a juvenile and he could now be aimed at the Gr. 2 Prix Hocquart in France before the Deutsches Derby in Hamburg.
In Ireland Siren’s Song opened her account on her second outing when taking the Listed Irish Stallion Farms EBF Salsabil Stakes at Navan. Her handler Jessica Harrington indicated after the victory that the daughter of AZAMOUR is an English or Irish Oaks prospect.
Updated on 18/04/2011.
