Homebred Aljazzi wins the Dick Hern Stakes

Nouriya and her filly foal by Australia pictured at the stud earlier this year

The stud’s growing roll of honour was again enhanced on Saturday when Aljazzi ran out the brave winner of the Listed Dick Hern Stakes at Haydock Park.

The daughter of Shamardal created a mighty impression when the wide-margin winner of her only start at Newmarket last autumn and subsequently wasn’t disgraced when tenth behind Minding in the 1,000 Guineas in the spring.

She enjoyed a holiday at Blue Diamond Stud after that run and returned to Marco Botti’s as a much stronger individual.

Partnered by Andrea Atzeni, Aljazzi assumed a good spot behind the early leaders and picked up well off the rail to run down Mix And Mingle and Pirouette. In the end, she won a shade cosily.

“I was a bit worried with the ground as we felt Aljazzi wanted a bit of give, but she did well,” Marco Botti told The Racing Post. “We ran her in the Guineas but it was too soon for her and mentally she wasn´t ready. We have a few options in the autumn particularly when there is give in the ground and I´d be inclined to step her up. I think she´ll get a mile and a quarter.”

Aljazzi represents two generations of Blue Diamond breeding as the first foal out of Nouriya, another stud homebred who carried our colours to victory in the Listed John Musker Stakes and Listed EBF Lyric Stakes.

In turn, Nouriya, by Danehill Dancer, is a half-sister to the Listed-placed Lady Nouf, also a member of the Blue Diamond band, and Yuften, who finished second past the post in the Prix Jean Prat.

Nouriya has a two-year-old filly by Galileo named Miss Nouriya in training with Marco Botti. She also has a yearling colt by Henrythenavigator, a filly foal by Australia and visited Frankel this season.