By Tom Frary
Impressive when off the mark by 4 3/4 lengths on debut at Haydock last month, Shadwell's Al Asifah (GB) (Frankel {GB}–Aneen {Ire}, by Lawman {Fr}) was prompting Classic talk after making light work of her first black-type test in Sunday's Listed Weatherbys Digital Solutions British EBF Agnes Keyser Fillies' S. at Goodwood. Not missed in the market as the 4-7 favourite for the 10-furlong contest, the John and Thady Gosden-trained relative of the G1 Irish 2000 Guineas-winning sire Awtaad (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}) was settled a few lengths off the pace by Jim Crowley. Making facile progress to take control two out, the homebred needed no urging to put her stamp on affairs and stormed clear of Empress Wu (GB) (Sea The Moon {Ger}) to score by 6 1/2 lengths with her rider stood in the irons.
Al Asifah, the second of four foals out of the listed-placed Aneen who is a half to four black-type performers headed by the aforementioned Awtaad, could be Curragh-bound with connections eyeing the upcoming Classic. “It was fabulous–she could be very good,” Shadwell's racing manager Angus Gold said. “We haven't had time to discuss it yet, and we will talk to Sheikha Hissa, but a very obvious thing if we want to be bold would be to talk about supplementing her for the Irish Oaks. Timing-wise, it was just a pity she had immaturity issues, her muscle enzymes were a bit high for a while so they have just gone steady with her and typically taken their time.”
“Everything about her, to me, looks a mile-and-a-half filly from her action,” Gold added. “Jim very much got that feeling today and the very encouraging thing was he was able to go past them so quickly off a relatively slow pace. She is a big, tall filly and in Jim's words, she could be even better over a mile and a half. If we had 10 more days, obviously we could consider Royal Ascot. If we were able to keep her in training next year and keep her in good form, she could be a filly for all the top mile-and-a-half races next year, so we won't want to rush her straight back in.”
Yep, she is good! 🚀
Al Asifah completely outclasses her rivals in the Listed @BritishEBF Agnes Keyser Fillies' Stakes and marks herself down as a filly that will surely be competing at the highest level sooner rather than later.
@ShadwellStud | @JimCrowley1978 pic.twitter.com/ulMGqGnyXm
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) June 11, 2023
Al Asifah, whose immediate relatives also include Frankel's Listed Cairn Rouge S. winner Mehnah (GB), is also connected to the G2 Champion Juvenile S. winner and G1 Derby runner-up Madhmoon (Ire) (Dawn Approach {Ire}). The family includes the great Seattle Slew, the 2000 Guineas hero Lomond and Seattle Dancer. Aneen's 2-year-old filly by Dubawi (Ire) is named Al Thariyaat (GB), while she also has a yearling full-brother to Al Asifah to come.
WEATHERBYS / BRITISH EBF AGNES KEYSER FILLIES S.-Listed, £70,000, Goodwood, 6-11, 3yo, f, 9f 197yT, 2:08.76, g/f.
1–AL ASIFAH (GB), 128, f, 3, by Frankel (GB)
1st Dam: Aneen (Ire) (SP-Ire), by Lawman (Fr)
2nd Dam: Asheerah (GB), by Shamardal
3rd Dam: Adaala, by Sahm
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN. O/B-Shadwell Estate Company Limited (GB); T-John & Thady Gosden; J-Jim Crowley. £39,697. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $56,591.
2–Empress Wu (GB), 128, f, 3, Sea The Moon (Ger)–Chinoiseries (GB), by Archipenko.
1ST BLACK TYPE. O/B-Miss K Rausing (GB); T-David Simcock. £15,050.
3–Sumo Sam (GB), 128, f, 3, Nathaniel (Ire)–Seaduced (GB), by Lope De Vega (Ire). O-Ben & Sir Martyn Arbib; B-Arbib Bloodstock Partnership (GB); T-Paul & Oliver Cole. £7,532.
Margins: 6HF, 2 1/4, 1. Odds: 0.57, 9.00, 7.00.
Also Ran: Elegancia (GB), Crystallium (GB), Ermesinde (Ire), High Spirited (Ire). Scratched: Conservationist (GB).
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