Wednesday 25 May 2011
Azamour’s daughter NO EXPLAINING provided a milestone first transatlantic Stakes victory for her sire over the weekend when winning the Gr 3 Gallorette Handicap on the Preakness Stakes undercard. This was a well-deserved victory for the four-year-old filly as she had been knocking on the door in similar company since arriving in America for the 2010 season. NO EXPLAINING had picked up four third places at this level, in the Gr 2 Lake George Stakes and Gr 3 Valley View Stakes , and the Listed Ontario Colleen Handicap and Alywow Stakes. Roger Attfield’s charge has made a positive start to her 2011 campaign, with this success following on from an easy win in her seasonal debut at Keeneland.
In France, the Aga Khan Studs-bred daughter of Azamour SHANKARDEH remained unbeaten in her second outing on Monday. Trained by Mikel Delzangles, the three-year-old was the stylish winner of a Class D contest at Saint-Cloud and will now progress at a higher level. The filly is a half-sister to Gr 1 Prix de l’Opéra heroine Shalanaya.
Azamour’s success has also stretched to Germany, where his son MI SENOR looks a talented prospect after posting an eight-length victory in a Class D event at Munich on Sunday. The colt holds an entry in the German Derby on 3rd July and could take his chance in this Group 1 if he proves his class in a Listed contest beforehand.
In England, Azamour’s best current flag-bearer is 2000 Guineas third Native Khan who is a leading fancy for the forthcoming Epsom Derby.
Updated on 25/05/2011.
