Wednesday 11 June 2003
Pat Downes, manager of Gilltown Stud in Ireland confirmed yesterday: “The plan is for Dalakhani and Alamshar to run in the Budweiser Irish Derby… Alain de Royer Dupré and John Oxx will train the two horses for the race. However, if the ground is soft then Alamshar will not run and if it comes up very soft then neither horse will run.”
Dalakhani extended his unbeaten record to six wins, including three Group I victories, when taking the Prix du Jockey Club in impressive fashion, thus promoting his status to leading European three year old according to many critics. This beautifully bred Darshaan half brother to Daylami has previously picked up the Group I Criterium International over a mile at two, and the Group I Prix Lupin on his way to taking the French Derby.
Alamshar has won the Group III Beresford Stakes at two, before finishing an unlucky second in the Listed Ballysax Stakes on his seasonal debut. A subsequent winner of the Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial, Alamshar came in a fast finishing third at the Epsom Derby last Saturday.
