By Tom Frary
Ascot's two-day meeting continued to supply 2-year-olds with abundant promise on Saturday, with the Stella Artois British EBF Novice S. playing host to a new TDN Rising Star as Shadwell's Akmaam (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) stamped his class on the seven-furlong contest. Always travelling easily on the front end under Martin Dwyer, the 12-1 shot opened up passing two out and galloped out strongly to the line for a four-length success from Siam Fox (Ire) (Prince of Lir {Ire}), with Arqoob (Ire) (Estidhkaar {Ire}) another half-length away in third. “He's a lovely colt and has always shown us he is,” trainer Brian Meehan said. “He is very much a 3-year-old in the making and could have one more run this year, but I'll speak to the owner and the racing team. He was in the stalls for four to six minutes after the scheduled time and that was unfortunate. He did a barrier trial at Lingfield and was really good today.” Martin Dwyer added, “He was impressive and is a lovely big, kind horse who six to eight weeks ago was working like a champion and then went through a weak spot, so Brian left him alone for a bit. He sent him for that barrier trial a week ago and he's really come good. He showed there today what he had shown us at home.”
Akmaam is the last known foal and the third winner from three runners out of the unraced Misty Night (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), whose dam Misty Heights (GB) (Fasliyev) captured the Listed Victor McCalmont S. and was runner-up in the G3 Derrinstown Stud 1000 Guineas Trial and G3 C. L. Weld Park S. She also produced the G1 Paddock S. winner Inara (SAf) (Trippi) and the GIII Dance Smartly H. winner Madeira Mist (Ire) (Grand Lodge), with the latter in turn responsible for the triple GI Canadian International-winning sire Joshua Tree (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}) and Ballydoyle's smart 3-year-old colt Arthur's Kingdom (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) who was second in the G1 Criterium de Saint Cloud and the G2 King Edward VII S. The fourth dam is Magic of Life (Seattle Slew), winner of the G1 Coronation S. and responsible for the G2 Lowther S. and G3 Princess Margaret S. winner and stakes producer Enthused (Seeking the Gold).
1st-Ascot, £10,000, Novice, 9-5, 2yo, 7fT, 1:31.21, gd.
AKMAAM (FR), c, 2, by Wootton Bassett (GB)
1st Dam: Misty Night (Ire), by Galileo (Ire)
2nd Dam: Misty Heights (GB), by Fasliyev
3rd Dam: Mountains of Mist (Ire), by Shirley Heights (GB)
Sales history: €120,000 Wlg '18 ARQDE; 150,000gns Ylg '19 TATOCT. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $8,592. O-Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum; B-Skymarc Farm Inc (FR); T-Brian Meehan. Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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