By Alan Carasso
Most recently promoted to the victory in the G3 Oak Tree Stakes at Goodwood on July 31, Shadwell homebred Raqiya (Ire) (Blue Point {Ire}) was beautifully rated from the front by Frankie Dettori and had plenty left for the dash to the wire, registering a 5-1 success in Saturday's GIII Goldikova Stakes at Del Mar.
The well-backed East Coast raider Sacred Wish was first away from her low draw, but the typically aggressive Paco Lopez took a tug to get her off the speed, and Dettori took full advantage, sending Raqiya along to lead more or less crossing under the wire for the first time. Fellow European-based galloper Kathmandu (Ire) (Showcasing {GB}) and Hollie Doyle prompted from second through an opening section of :23.04.
The race was won, for all intents and purposes, down the back through the middle furlongs, as Dettori steadied the tempo noticeably, and though Doyle and Kathmandu continued to shadow Raqiya around the turn, the Italian was taking confident looks behind, knowing he hadn't spent a penny in the lead. Thrown a few crosses in upper stretch, Raqiya responded beautifully and was never in danger as longshot Uncorked (Aus) (Pierro {Aus}) emerged out of the pack for second. Sacred Wish (Not This Time) was home third.
“I just said to Frankie (Dettori), 'if she jumps well, go for it,'” said trainer Owen Burrows, saddling his first graded winner in the U.S. “I just basically left it to Frankie. I was very comfortable in that she would stay, so I wasn't too bothered by the stepping up to a mile. Obviously, we were very concerned with the draw but look, he gave her a great ride on the front didn't he? He dictated from the front, quicken up on the bend and it worked out well.”
A two-time winner from four juvenile appearances, Raqiya took out the Listed Cathedral Stakes at Salisbury May 25 ahead of a non-threatening sixth in the G3 Summer Stakes at York July 12. Bothered inside the final furlong of the Oak Tree, she was on the losing side of the bobber, but the stewards ruled there was enough interference to reverse the placings.
Pedigree Notes:
Raqiya is the second U.S. graded winner for her young sire, joining last year's GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint hero Big Evs (Ire).
The winner's dam is a half-sister to SW Sudoor (GB) (Fantastic Light), SW & GSP Mudaarah (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire})and SW Ethaara (GB) (Green Desert) and the deeper female family includes dual Group 1 winner Bahri (Riverman) and GSW/G1SP Bahhare (Woodman).
Rihaam was purchased by Blandford Bloodstock for 540,000gns () at the 2022 Tattersalls December sale and produced a filly by Dark Angel (Ire) in 2023. The mare produced a colt by Camelot (GB) this season.
#10 RAQIYA ($12.20) got to the lead easily and had plenty left in the stretch to win the $300,000 Goldikova Stakes (G3). @FrankieDettori was in the irons for Owen Burrows.
Watch more on @FanDuelTV and wager here https://t.co/GFVAAW6Sp7 pic.twitter.com/mFOkz5JnFJ
— FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) November 2, 2024
Saturday, Del Mar
GOLDIKOVA S. PRESENTED BY YAAMAVA'-GIII, $302,500, Del Mar, 11-2, 3yo/up, f/m, 1mT, 1:36.09, fm.
1–RAQIYA (IRE), 118, f, 3, by Blue Point (Ire)
1st Dam: Rihaam (Ire), by Dansili (GB)
2nd Dam: Wissal, by Woodman
3rd Dam: Wasnah, by Nijinsky II
O-Shadwell Stable; B-Shadwell Estate Company Limited (IRE); T-Owen Burrows; J-Lanfranco Dettori. $180,000. Lifetime Record: GSW-Eng, 8-5-0-0, $319,581. Werk Nick Rating: A+++. *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree or free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Uncorked (Aus), 121, m, 5, Pierro (Aus)–Piaf (NZ), by Iffraaj (GB). (130,000 Ylg '21 MMGYRL). O-The Elkstone Group LLC (Stuart Grant); B-Mr. A Galbraith (AUS); T-Philip D'Amato. $60,000.
3–Sacred Wish, 121, f, 4, Not This Time–Indian Wish, by Indian Charlie. ($80,000 Wlg '20 KEENOV; $70,000 RNA Ylg '21 KEESEP; $50,000 2yo '22 EASMAY). O-Black Type Thoroughbreds, Swinbank Stables, Steve Adkisson, Christopher Dunn and Anthony Spinazzola; B-John R. Penn (KY); T-George Weaver. $36,000.
Margins: 1HF, HF, 3/4. Odds: 5.10, 29.70, 2.30.
Also Ran: Mouffy, Lucky Girl (Ire), Aspen Grove (Ire), Kathmandu (Ire), Fluffy Socks, Omaha Girl, Fuente Ovejuna (GB). Scratched: Nadette (Fr).
Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
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