By Sean Cronin
Dermot Weld's stable has yet to fire on all cylinders and, having set the ball rolling with Cork maiden winner Spoken Truth (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) on Friday, made its mark on the pattern-race scene when Ezeliya (Fr) (Dubawi {Ire}–Eziyra {Ire}, by Teofilo {Ire}) swooped late to register a career high in Saturday's G3 Irish Stallion Farms EBF Salsabil S. at Navan.
Ezeliya, who shed maiden status at Cork in the second of two juvenile starts last September, employed patient tactics off the tempo in sixth for most of this 10-furlong test. Nudged forward into contention approaching the quarter-mile marker, the 9-1 chance came under sterner urging thereafter and was driven out inside the final furlong to gain a half-length verdict from Purple Lily (Ire) (Calyx {GB}) nearing the line. Purple Lily's rider Billy Lee got tangled up in his off-side stirrup in the dying strides, but the incident made little difference to the result.
“I thought she would run a big race and she did,” Weld said. “It was a very true-run Group race and they went a real good gallop for a mile-and-a-quarter. Chris [Hayes] took his time on her. He planned to sit a little bit closer, but the pace they were going he waited. I loved the way she attacked the hill and saw her race out well. Better ground will suit her better. It is a lovely family, a good, tough family and I think she will get a mile-and-a-half. She is a Group 1 filly and there's lots to look forward to. She is in both [G1 Oaks and G1 Irish Oaks] and we will review it and see. We will see how she progresses during the week and make a decision in two weeks time.”
Pedigree Notes
Ezeliya, who becomes the 179th pattern-race winner for her sire, is the second of three live foals and leading performer from two winners out of multiple Group 1-placed G2 Blandford S. victrix Eziyra (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}). The March-foaled homebred bay's stakes-placed second dam Eytarna (Ire) (Dubai Destination), who produced a total of four black-type performers, is kin to G1 Irish Oaks and G1 Prix Royal-Oak heroine Ebadiyla (Ire) (Sadler's Wells), G1 Moyglare Stud S. victrix Edabiya (Ire) (Rainbow Quest) and G1 Gold Cup winners Estimate (Ire) (Monsun {Ger}) and Enzeli (Ire) (Kahyasi {Ire}). Ezeliya is a half-sister to an unnamed 2-year-old colt by Siyouni (Fr).
Saturday, Navan, Ireland
IRISH STALLION FARMS EBF SALSABIL S.-G3, €65,000, Navan, 4-27, 3yo, 10fT, 2:12.27, gd/yl.
1–EZELIYA (FR), 128, f, 3, by Dubawi (Ire)
1st Dam: Eziyra (Ire) (MGSW & G1SP-Ire, G1SP-Eng & HK,
$754,699), by Teofilo (Ire)
2nd Dam: Eytarna (Ire), by Dubai Destination
3rd Dam: Ebaziya (Ire), by Darshaan (GB)
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. O-H H The Aga Khan;
B-H H The Aga Khan's Studs SC (FR); T-Dermot Weld; J-Chris
Hayes. €39,000. Lifetime Record: 3-2-0-0, $52,399. Werk Nick
Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or
the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Purple Lily (Ire), 128, f, 3, Calyx (GB)–Boca Raton (Ire), by
Approve (Ire). 'TDN Rising Star'. 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP
BLACK TYPE. (€17,500 Wlg '21 GOFNO1; €24,000 Ylg '22
TATIRY; €155,000 2yo '23 TATGOR). O-Zinlo Syndicate; B-B
O'Neill (IRE); T-Paddy Twomey. €13,000.
3–Everlasting (Ire), 128, f, 3, Kingman (GB)–Could It Be Love, by
War Front. 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. O-M
Tabor, D Smith, Mrs J Magnier & Westerberg; B-Coolmore
(IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien. €6,500.
Margins: HF, HF, 1. Odds: 9.00, 1.00, 6.00.
Also Ran: Caught U Looking (Ire), Bellezza (Ire), Wingspan (Ire), Riviera Queen (Ire).
Dermot Weld is well and truly up and running! 🟢🔴
After winning a maiden at Cork last night, the Weld team now have what looks an Oaks prospect in Ezeliya, who stays on best to land the Group 3 Salsabil Stakes under @chrishayes24.@NavanRacecourse | @IrishEBF_ pic.twitter.com/oVaxeyvgKq
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) April 27, 2024
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