Monday 11 June 2012
Some promising Aga Khan Studs three-year-olds picked up black-type on Friday as RIDASIYNA (Motivator) won the Listed Prix Melisande and KARATASH (Halling) finished third in the Listed Nijinsky Stakes just ahead of stablemate Aklan (Dalakhani). All three were making just their second racecourse appearance and should still have plenty of progress to make. At the Curragh on Sunday, the four-year-old SHARESTAN registered his first stakes victory in the Listed Silver Stakes.
The Mikel Delzangles-trained RIDASIYNA had already left a most favourable impression on her racing debut in May, winning by five lengths at Longchamp. The filly built on this effort on Friday with another five-length success, this time in Listed company in the ten furlong Prix Melisande. Her next target could be the Gr 3 Prix Chloé over 1 mile 1 furlong at Chantilly on 1st July.
RIDASIYNA is out of winning Darshaan mare Ridafa, and her granddam Ridaiyma (Kahyasi) won three races in England and was a Group 3 runner-up. Ridafa has already produced useful dual-purpose performer Ranjaan (Dubai Destination) and two further winners.
In Ireland, the lightly raced SHARESTAN earned more black-type when winning the Listed Silver Stakes over ten furlongs. The four-year-old colt trained by John Oxx had been placed in Group 3 event on his last outing and progressed on this performance.
SHARESTAN is a son of Shamardal and the winning daughter of Ashkalani, Sharesha. She had already produced the Stakes performer Sharleez (Marju) and the Group 3 winner Shareen (Bahri).
KARATASH had made a pleasing debut to easily win his maiden at Navan in April, and he stayed on solidly to secure third place on heavy ground in the Listed Nijinsky Stakes at Leopardstown. John Oxx’s charge is out of dual winner Karawana (King’s Best), from the family of Group 3 winner and Group 1 second Karasta.
After opening his account on the first time of asking at the Curragh in April, Aklan finished half a length behind KARATASH in fourth place in the Nijinsky Stakes. This son of Dalakhani is a half brother to two winners.
Updated on 11/06/2012.
