TDN RISING STARS

October 5, 2007 - NEWMARKET, Race , Mdn, GBP £9,000, 7f, 4.2500

Almajd (Ire), C, 2007, by Marju (Ire)

1st Dam: Irish Valley, by Irish River (Fr)
2nd Dam: Green Valley 2nd, by
3rd Dam: Sly Pola, by

Owner: Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum
Breeder: Shadwell Estate Company Ltd
Trainer: Sir Michael Stoute

There was a pre-race buzz about Newmarket's Rowley Mile track and those who took heed of the whispers were rewarded with a highly encouraging debut performance from 11-4 chance Almajd. The bay homebred was out sharply to be handily placed through the early strides and travelled smoothly throughout this debut. Challenging wide at the quarter-mile, the half-sister to Green Pola (Nijinsky II), GSW-Fr; and Alhaarth (Ire) (Unfuwain), Hwt. 2yo Colt-Eng, Hwt. Older Horse-Ire at 7-9.5f, G1SW-Eng, GSW & G1SP-Ire, MGSW-Fr, $573,383, hooked up with market rival Virtual (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) at the distance and powered up the hill to comfortably best that rival by 1 1/4 lengths. "He had worked very pleasingly and is a very quick learner," trainer Sir Michael Stoute commented. "He's not a robust horse, so he was quite easy to get nicely tuned for his first start. He was quite professional there and I would say he could be useful." He received a post-race quote of 25-1 for both the G1 English 2000 Guineas and G1 Epsom Derby from Blue Square. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, £5,829.