Azamour’s Shahnaza Triumphs in Longchamp Listed Test

[Wandering Eyes]

His Highness The Aga Khan could have a smart crop of 3-year-old fillies again this year and Shahnaza came here to back up the impression she created when winning by four lengths over 10 1/2 furlongs at Saint-Cloud Apr. 14. Always happy in her comfort zone in the cat-bird seat, the bay zipped to the inside as the cutaway came in the home straight and after seizing the advantage with 300 metres remaining was unextended to secure an easy first black-type success. “She is a very nice filly and she won well again,” trainer Alain de Royer-Dupre commented. “We are of course thinking of the [June 17 G1 Prix de] Diane for her and although the [May 27 G1 Prix] Saint-Alary is a possibility beforehand, I don’t like the condition of the ground here at ParisLongchamp and don’t want to take any chances with her. She might go straight to Chantilly.”
Shahnaza’s dam Shanndiyra is a half-sister to the G1 Prix de l’Opera heroine Shalanaya (Ire) (Lomitas {GB}) and the G2 Prix de Chaudenay scorer and G1 Prix Royal-Oak third Shankardeh (Ire), also by one of the owner-breeder’s past luminaries in Azamour. The third dam Sharamana, who took the G3 Prix Minerve, was responsible for the G2 Goldene Peitsche-winning Scandinavian champion Giant Sandman (Ire) (Footstepsinthesand {GB}), while her full-sister Shamarzana (Ire) boasts two top-level winners among her descendants in the Secretariat S. victor and Breeders’ Cup Turf runner-up Shamdinan (Fr) (Dr. Fong) and the Gran Premio di Milano heroine Shamdala (Ire) (Grand Lodge). Shanndiyra, whose family also features the legendary Shergar (GB), has an as-yet unnamed yearling colt by Mastercraftsman (Ire).

PRIX DE LA SEINE-Listed, €55,000, LCP, 5-6, 3yo, f, 11fT, 2:19.18, gd.
1–SHAHNAZA (FR), 125, f, 3, by Azamour (Ire)
1st Dam: Shanndiyra (Ire), by King’s Best
2nd Dam: Shalamantika (Ire), by Nashwan
3rd Dam: Sharamana (Ire), by Darshaan (GB)
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN. O-H H The Aga Khan; B-H H The Aga Khan’s Studs SC (FR); T-Alain de Royer-Dupre; J-Christophe Soumillon. €27,500. Lifetime Record: 3-2-1-0, €46,225.
2–Pollara (Ire), 125, f, 3, Camelot (GB)–Brooklyn’s Storm, by Storm Cat. (160,000gns Ylg ’15 TATOCT). O-Ilse Smits. €11,000.
3–Chipolata (Fr), 125, f, 3, Muhtathir (GB)–Chicago May (Fr), by Numerous. (€18,000 RNA Ylg ’16 AROCT). O-Hubert Honore. €8,250.
Margins: 1 1/4, 1, SHD. Odds: 0.90, 6.30, 18.00.
Also Ran: Jaylan, Saracene (Ire), Petite Alice (Fr). Click for the Racing Post result. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.

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