Saturday, September 2, 2017
Aljazzi ridden comes home clear in the Atalanta Stakes
Aljazzi swept clear for glory in the BetBright Casino Atalanta Stakes at Sandown Park
Making her first appearance since filling the runner-up spot in the Duke of Cambridge Stakes at Royal Ascot as a 40/1 shot, Marco Botti's filly was 9/2 back at Group Three level in the hands of Andrea Atzeni.
The daughter of Shamardal was nearer last than first racing inside the final three furlongs, but the pacesetters had gone hard and as they wilted, Aljazzi was only just finding top gear.
John Gosden's pair of Dancing Breeze and Nathra were to the fore as the final furlong marker approached, but Aljazzi went by them as if they were stood still and had three lengths in hand at the line.
Nathra was a clear second ahead of Tisbutadream in third.
Atzeni said: "It's very important to win a Group race with her. She's a beautifully-bred filly and it's obviously good for the stud.
"I think she'll go on to better things, but it was good to win a Group Three on her.
"The plan was to sit a bit closer to the pace, but she hasn't run for over two months and she was a bit rusty early on.
"I left her alone and she likes to pass horses anyway. She picked up really well.
"She's quite light and busy, so I think the two-month break suited her."
Aljazzi is set to make her Group One debut in the Kingdom of Bahrain Sun Chariot Stakes at Newmarket on October 7.
Botti said: "She's definitely a filly who has got better as a four-year-old. She's more mature and stronger.
"The plan was to be a bit closer to the pace, but they went a genuine pace all the way and Andrea sat at the back and she picked up well.
"She's progressing and she's a nice filly to have in the yard.
"If she did well here the plan has always been to go straight to the Sun Chariot and I think that will be the plan."
0 comments:
Post a Comment
Be the first to comment