By Tom Frary
Wednesday's Listed Al Shira'aa Racing Irish EBF Naas Oaks Trial looked a hot contest beforehand and it proved just that as The Aga Khan unearthed another 2024 Classic contender in Hanalia (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}–Hanakiyya {Ire}, by Danehill Dancer {Ire}). Settled in rear by Ben Coen early, the 16-1 shot who had taken a 10-furlong Curragh maiden last month was in the right place with the pace on up front and the pressure turned up in early straight.
Launched wide to overhaul the Ger Lyons representative Bellezza (Ire) (Siyouni {Fr}) and Ballydoyle's Greenfinch (Justify) inside the final 150 yards, the Johnny Murtagh-trained relative of Sea The Stars' dual Derby hero Harzand (Ire) stayed on to beat that pair by 3/4 of a length and a short head respectively.
Despite the winner beating some Irish Oaks contenders here, there will be no Classic bid according to Murtagh. “She's not big, but has a good turn of foot when she relaxes early and it worked out very well today,” he said. “Ben said said he loved the way she hit the line and she was tough as well. He said he wouldn't go a mile-and-a-half just yet, but maybe later. A mile-and-a-quarter is good for her at the moment. I entered her this morning in a group 3 over a mile-and-one at the Curragh in three weeks' time. I'd definitely bring her back to a mile-and-one rather than going a mile-and-a-half at this stage.”
16-1 winner of the Listed highlight!
Hanalia (Sea The Stars) swoops and finishes best of all up in class in the @alshiraaracing @IrishEBF_ Naas Oaks Trial for @BenCoen2 and @JohnnyMurtagh pic.twitter.com/dB8h8hxXju
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) June 26, 2024
The dam now has a trio of black-type performers following the exploits of the G3 Prix Bertrand du Breuil winner Hunaina (Ire) (Tamayuz {GB}) and the G3 Derrinstown Stud 1,000 Guineas Trial scorer Hamariyna (Ire) by Sea The Stars' Sea The Moon (Ger). Alongside the aforementioned Harzand, the family also includes another Irish Derby hero in Hurricane Lane (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) and the G1 British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes heroine Seal Of Approval (GB) (Authorized {Ire}). Hanakiyya's 2-year-old filly Hanamaya (Ire) is by Night Of Thunder (Ire), while she also has a yearling colt by Palace Pier (GB).
AL SHIRAA'A RACING IRISH EBF NAAS OAKS TRIAL-Listed, €52,500, Naas, 6-26, 3yo, 10f 84yT, 1:12.36, gd.
1–HANALIA (IRE), 128, f, 3, by Sea The Stars (Ire)
1st Dam: Hanakiyya (Ire), by Danehill Dancer (Ire)
2nd Dam: Handaza (Ire), by Be My Guest
3rd Dam: Hazaradjat (Ire), by Darshaan (GB)
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN. O-H H Aga Khan; B-His Highness The Aga Khan's Studs SC (IRE); T-Johnny Murtagh; J-Ben Coen. €31,500. Lifetime Record: 3-2-0-0, $47,198. *1/2 to Hunaina (Ire) (Tamayuz {GB}), GSW-Fr, SW-Eng, $177,753; 1/2 to Hamariyna (Ire) (Sea The Moon {Ger}), GSW-Ire.
2–Bellezza (Ire), 128, f, 3, Siyouni (Fr)–Terrific (Ire), by Galileo (Ire). O/B-Moyglare Stud Farm (IRE); T-Ger Lyons. €10,500.
3–Greenfinch, 128, f, 3, Justify–Misty For Me (Ire), by Galileo (Ire).
1ST BLACK TYPE. O-Mrs J Magnier/M Tabor/D Smith/Westerberg; B-Orpendale/Chelston/Wynatt (KY); T-Aidan O'Brien. €5,250.
Margins: 3/4, SHD, 2. Odds: 16.00, 8.50, 3.50.
Also Ran: Fleur de Chine (GB), Madam Celeste (Ire), Grateful (Ire), Elizabeth Jane (Ire), Mother Nature (Ire), Seaward (Ire), Glor Tire (Ire), Quatrain (Ire). Scratched: Blue Poppy (Ire).
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