Ayrad just denied in Godolphin Stakes

Just a short neck separated Ayrad from recording his first black-type success in the Godolphin Stakes at Newmarket. The three-year-old Dalakhani colt finished just a short head and a neck behind five-year-old Nabucco and Red Galileo even though he received a bump from the winner inside the final furlong.

Currently rated 100 for Roger Varian, Ayrad is on the upgrade and should be even better as a four-year-old.

There was also an encouraging performance at Newmarket from two-year-old Azraff, who ran fourth in the Somerville Tattersall Stakes. A two-time winner and never out of the first four in six starts for Marco Botti, Azraff was bought by Tony Nerses for 57,000gns as a yearling.