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20 for Saxon Warrior
Coolmore’s former shuttler Saxon Warrior (Deep Impact) chalked up his 20th individual stakes winner won Tuesday when the John and Thady Gosden-trained Saxon Street (3 c ex Sea Is Gold by Sea The Stars) scored in the Blue Riband Trial Stakes (Listed, 1m 2f) at Epsom. Ridden by William Buick, the three-year-old colt hit the front with over a furlong left to race and stayed on well to beat Rebel Rocker (Cityscape) by two and a half lengths. There was a further length and a quarter back to Balzac (Japan) in third place. Bred by Sunderland Holdings Inc, Saxon Street was purchased by Jamie McCalmont for €170,000 at Book 1 of the Goffs Orby Yearling Sale in 2024 and races in the colours of Marc Chan’s Marcstown Ltd. He is the first foal out of the Sea The Stars (Cape Cross) mare Sea Is Gold, herself an unraced sister to Australian Bloodstock’s 2019 Sydney Cup (Gr 1, 3200m) winner Shraaoh and 2020 Chairman’s Quality (Gr 2, 2600m) winner and Sydney Cup placegetter Raheen House – who also raced for Australian Bloodstock. Saxon Warrior, who shuttled to Coolmore Australia between 2019-2022, is standing at Coolmoore Stud for a fee of €10,000 (approx. AU$16,310).
36 for Zarak
Dolmalan (3 c ex Dolianova by Rock Of Gibraltar) became the 36th individual stakes winner for Haras de Bonneval stallion Zarak (Dubawi) when landing Tuesday’s Prix de Suresnes (Listed, 2000m) at Chantilly. Ridden by Mickael Barzalona for trainer Mikel Delzangles, the colt came from last in the five-runner field to collar the Aidan O’Brien-trained Montreal (Sea The Stars), who had made all of the running to that point, by a head at the line. There was a further two and a half lengths back to Wiki (Make Believe) in third place. Bred and raced by Aga Khan Studs, Dolmalan is out of the Listed-winning Rock Of Gibraltar (Danehill) mare Dolianova, herself a half-sister to Group 1 scorer Dolniya (Azamour). Zarak is standing at a fee of €80,000 (approx. AU$130,470).
UK: Asfoora set to improve off Newmarket return
Last year’s Royal Ascot winner Asfoora (Flying Artie) is expected to improve on whatever she produces when she resumes in the Palace House Stakes (Gr 3, 5f) at Newmarket on Saturday, with both trainer Henry Dwyer and jockey Oisin Murphy tempering expectations first-up. Murphy, who has partnered the mare in her northern hemisphere Group 1 successes, rode her in a recent piece of work and said she had returned in good order, but would benefit from the outing. “She’s moving great and it’s wonderful that she’s back,” he told Racing.com. “She’s going to need her first start this year. I think Henry is targeting the King Charles III Stakes at Royal Ascot that she won in 2024, and she’ll have a couple of runs into that. I’d be really surprised if she won on her first start this time around, but I hope she’ll be more than good enough through the season.” Dwyer echoed that sentiment, noting the demanding nature of Newmarket’s straight five furlongs could test her fitness. “That last furlong on the Rowley Mile is very steep, probably more like a six-furlong race,” he said. “She’s never really coped with that at the best of times.” Asfoora will press on to the Temple Stakes (Gr 2, 5f) at Haydock on May 23 before a return to Royal Ascot in June.