Astrelle the latest winner for Makfi

Makfi's growing list of first-crop winners gained another name yesterday when Astrelle won a ten-runner maiden race at Doncaster.

There was a distinctly southern Europe ring to the victory, for the filly was bred by Italian interests - Azienda Agricola Gennaro Stimola - trained in Newmarket by Marco Botti (pictured below) and ridden by Italian Paolo Sirigu, who told the Racing Post: "I'm based with Mr Botti, and this is my first winner for him - my other three have all been for Mick Quinn. Astrelle had been running well, liked this ground and seems to be improving."

Sirigu wore the colours of Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum - his mount, a daughter of the Hussonet mare Miss Mariduff, won by half a length. She was sold as a yearling in Italy, and bought for €30,000 by bloodstock agent Johnny McKeever.