More second-season Makfi magic
The Qatar Bloodstock-owned stallion was responsible for yet another winner yesterday in Age Of Elegance, a three-year-old from Makfi's first crop. Trained by Olly Stevens for Isidore Carivalis and Pearl Bloodstock, Age Of Elegance won an eight-runner Lingfield maiden by two and a half lengths.
A son of outstanding sire Dubawi, Makfi transferred from Tweenhills Farm and Stud to HH Aga Khan's Haras de Bonneval in France for the current covering season - France's first colts' Classic of the season, the Gr.1 Poule d'Essai Des Poulains (French 2,000 Guineas), was won by Make Believe, another member of Makfi's first crop.
Make Believe holds an engagement it the Gr.1 Grand Prix de Paris (July 14) but he was not declared for Sunday's Gr.1 Prix du Jockey-Club (French Derby) which currently holds entries for 18 horses, including Qatar Racing's Sumbal.
Trained by Francis Graffard, Sumbal is unbeaten in three races and won the Gr.2 Prix Greffulhe on his latest start. He is still a possible runner in Epsom's Gr.1 Investec Derby, but he is also among 18 entries for Sunday's Gr.1 Prix du Jockey-Club.
Qatar Racing's Elm Park and Pearl Bloodstock's Karpino, who won Monday's Gr.2 Mehl Mulhens-Rennen (German 2,000 Guineas) at Cologne, are also candidates for Epsom. Elm Park galloped at the course yesterday during an annual work-out for Derby contenders called Breakfast with the Stars.
Quoted in today's Racing Post, David Redvers, who manages horses for the two organisations, said of Elm Park: "Andrea [Atzeni] said it was like riding a snake down the straight because the horse was enjoying himself so much. I'd say he's come on a lot for the Dante [Stakes, in which he was third]."
Redvers added that Karpino's next race could be the German Derby or at Epsom.
Qatar Racing has just one runner today - After The Sunset, who runs in a handicap at Kempton (18.40) for trainer Clive Cox - and its next Stakes-race hope is Flaming Spear. He is due to run tomorrow in the Listed Heron Stakes (20.15) at Sandown, where among his eight rivals is the Saeed bin Suroor-trained Ijmaaly, another son of Makfi, and a winner by no less than 12 lengths on his recent racing debut.