Weld Banking On Eziyra In Hong Kong

[Wandering Eyes]

The Aga Khan’s Eziyra (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) continues on her international travels in next weekend’s G1 Hong Kong Vase, and while the chestnut will be a dark horse to visit the Sha Tin winner’s enclosure, trainer Dermot Weld said he maintains his faith in the 4-year-old filly.

After making a late start to her 2018 campaign, Eziyra made up for lost time by posting wins in the G3 Ballyroan S. in August and the G2 Blandford S. in mid September, which bookended a third behind Sea Of Class (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) in the G1 Yorkshire Oaks. She was sixth, beaten six lengths by Sistercharlie (Ire) (Myboycharlie {Ire}), in the GI Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf on Nov. 3.

“We are pleased with Eziyra,” Weld said. “She has come out of her race in America very well and is all set to run in the Vase. She may be one of the lowest-rated in the race, but she is a very consistent filly and a very good filly who has won five group races and is multiple Group 1-placed. She was beaten by Enable in the Irish Oaks in 2017 and ran an excellent race to be third in the Yorkshire Oaks this year. She is adaptable, and I think she will represent us well at the Hong Kong International Races.”

Eziyra will meet another Breeders’ Cup also-ran in the Vase: the Andre Fabre-trained Waldgeist (GB) (Galileo {Ire}), who was fifth behind Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) in the GI Breeders’ Cup Turf. The 4-year-old, who was fourth also behind Enable in the G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, won three group races in France over the summer culminating in the G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud.

“I was a bit disappointed with him in America, where he ran a bit flat and didn’t quicken as usual,” Fabre said. “But now he has recovered really well, and he will enjoy Sha Tin racecourse and the fast ground.”

Fabre will also saddle Godolphin’s Inns Of Court (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) in the G1 Hong Kong Mile. The triple Group 3 winner was second, beaten a short head, in the G1 Prix de la Foret on Oct. 7 and fourth most recently in the G3 Prix de Seine-et-Oise on Oct. 31 on very soft ground.

“He needed a race in between–and remember, he was carrying a penalty last time,” said Fabre. “He ran alright, considering the ground, and he has already shown he can perform well over a mile in the Marois. He should get a good pace to run at in Hong Kong–and while obviously it’s a very good race, he is a horse that is very consistent and always runs well.”

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