Elzaam makes 74 SW for Redoute's Choice
Elzaam, the striking son of Redoute’s Choice who turned heads at Royal Ascot last year, won the six-furlong Newbury Carnarvon S. LR by six lengths in England yesterday. In doing so he became the third northern hemisphere stakeswinner by the champion sire after Musir (in Dubai, 2010) and Clianthus (in Japan, 2011).
Bred in Australia by Kia Ora Stud and trained by Roger Varian for by Sheikh Hamdan, Elzaam is also the first member of Redoute’s Choice’s northern time-conceived crop of 2008 to win at black type level.
Elzaam made a strong impression last English summer with a debut win at York before running a very close second to Strong Suit in the Royal Ascot Coventry S. G2. He has now won twice, and been Group or Listed Stakes-placed three times from six starts.
Pictured: Elzaam (blue & white colours) battling out the finish of the 2010 Royal Ascot Coventry S. G2 with Strong Suit. (PHOTO: Racing & Sports)
It is now likely that Elzaam will make a second appearance at Royal Ascot. Sheikh Hamdan’s racing manager Angus Gold said after the race, “We were delighted to see him come back to form and while we haven’t really discussed his next target, in the back of my mind is the Golden Jubilee….We saw the true horse which he has always looked at home and hopefully we have a sprinter to go to war with.”
Elzaam is the 15th individual stakeswinner worldwide for Redoute’s Choice this season. It is a tally headed by two classic-winning 3YO fillies Absolutely (ATC Australian Oaks G1) and King’s Rose (CJC NZ One Thousand Guineas G1).
Redoute’s Choice stands the 2011 season at a fee of $137,500 inc. GST.
