Al Nafoorah has shed hers bridesmaid tag as the season has progressed and after a deserved month’s break she lined up at Sandown seeking her third win of the season. Andrea Atzeni soon had the daughter of Bated Breath settled beautifully at the rear of the field as the leaders went an even gallop in the early stages. As the field quickened down the home straight our filly continued to travel well and Atzeni switched her to the outside to make her challenge. She made up ground rapidly and as she entered the final furlong she swooped to the front. She was kept up to her work and found gamely for pressure to hold off Exceeding Power by three quarters of a length.
This win will mean that Al Nafoorah is likely to get a new rating in the early 80s. Having started the season on a mark of 67, she has now improved over a stone and there could well be more to come if she continues to relax. The Sandown mile suited her well and whilst we may be tempted to try ten furlongs with her at some stage, there is no need to do so at the moment. Many of the winners at the meeting did come from the rear of the field and she was well positioned but it was an impressive performance from the daughter of Cat O’Nine Tails. Her half-sister by Kyllachy is going to be joining us here at La Grange and we hope she has as much guts and determination as her older sister.
Congratulations to Al Nafoorah’s owner Mr Mohammed Jaber. Mr Jaber has been a huge supporter of La Grange and we are delighted that your filly has won again. The steady flow of winners has continued throughout recent weeks and this is in no small part down to all the team who have been working very hard.